Have your say. What do you want from Census products?

The ABS is currently reviewing the way we deliver Census data, in preparation for developing products for 2011 Census output. It is very important to us to hear your experiences of using Census products, so that we can refine and improve the way we deliver Census data in the future.

We're looking for comments and suggestions from users about their experience of:

• CData Online
• Quick Stats
• MapStats
• Census Tables
• Community Profiles
• Data Packs
• TableBuilder

If you'd like to provide feedback please take a few minutes to answer some questions by clicking on the attached link. Feedback closes on 1st February, at 11:30am.

Are you looking to develop your statistical skills in 2010?

Statistics are collected on most aspects of Australian life. They capture vital information about our economic performance, the well-being of our population and the condition of our environment.

In order to make sound judgements, it is essential that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand, interpret and evaluate statistical information for research, planning and decision-making purposes.

The ABS provides a range of training courses to develop your statistical skills and to help you make the best use of ABS information. These training courses can assist you to develop your ability to understand statistical concepts; analyse and interpret data; design and develop survey questionnaires; and develop an understanding of labour, demographic and environmental statistics.

ABS training courses offered in 2010, include:

• Turning Data Into Information
• Analysing Survey Data Made Simple
• Basic Survey Design
• Principles of Questionnaire Design
• Making Quality Informed Decisions
• Introduction to ABS Statistics
• Understanding Demographic Data
• Introduction to Labour Statistics
• Valuing Australia's Environment
• Using TableBuilder
• Using ABS DataCubes in SuperTable

To find out more see the ABS training webpage, or contact ABS Training in your State or Territory.

More Australians Living Alone

The December edition of Australian Social Trends found that more Australians are living alone.

The article reports that over the last couple of decades, the proportion of the population aged 15 years and over living alone (in private dwellings) increased from 9% to 12%, and over the next 20 years is projected to increase to 16% (3.1 million). This overall long-term increase in the prevalence of living alone is in part due to the ageing of the population, but also to the increasing propensity of younger and middle aged people to live alone.

This edition also provides statistical analysis and commentary on a wide range of current social issues including: Jobless families; Living alone; Smoking, risky drinking and obesity; Preschool attendance; Patterns in work and International comparisons.

Summary tables on 'Family and Community' and 'Work' and 'Housing' are also included which provide an overview of social change over the past decade, as well as how social conditions differ across Australian states and territories.

Making sense of statistics

The ABS has recently released a suite of 'Understanding Statistics' webpages on the ABS website.

These webpages consist of a range of fact sheets, information guides, video tutorials, presentations and online courses to help you:

• find the statistics you're looking for
• analyse, interpret and evaluate statistical information
• communicate statistical findings with tables and graphs

Check out the Introduction to Statistics Online Course for a comprehensive overview of statistics. Or have a look at our Online Video Tutorials and Presentations to find out more about specific topics of interest. ABS also offers face to face Training Courses on a range of topics to develop skills for high quality statistical collections and statistical analysis.

So, if you're looking to build your knowledge about statistics, and how to use statistics to make informed decisions, check out the resources available for Understanding Statistics.

Are we getting better at recycling and catching public transport?

The release of Environmental Issues: Waste Management and Transport Use, Mar 2009 (cat.no 4602.0.55.002), revealed some interesting statistics on recycling and the use of public transport.

Almost every Australian household (99%) participated in some form of recycling or reusing of waste, and just over half (51%) of Australian households recycled or reused kitchen or food waste.

And when it comes to public transport, we're getting better, but still have a long way to go. Australians increased their use of public transport to get to work or full-time study over the past decade, rising from 12% in 2000 to 14% in 2009. However, the overwhelming majority of Australians still travelled by car -- 80% in March 2009 compared to 82% in 2000.

Further information can be found in Environmental Issues: Waste Management and Transport Use (cat. no. 4602.0.55.002).

A new record for births

Australia has again set a new record for the number of births in a year, with a total of 296,600 births registered in 2008, surpassing the previous record years of 2007 (285,200 births) and 1971 (276,400).

Overall, Australia had a total fertility rate of 1.97 babies per woman, up from 1.92 in 2007 and the highest since 1977 (2.01).

More details are available in Births, Australia, 2008 (cat. no. 3301.0), which includes: detailed statistics on live births: male and female births; births of Indigenous children; age and birthplace of parents; duration of marriage; previous children; nuptial and exnuptial births; single and multiple births; usual residence of mother (by state or territory); and regional comparisons.

Other related information can be found in:

• Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no 3101.0)
• Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories (cat. no 3201.0)
• Population Projections, Australia (cat. no 3222.0)
• Experimental Estimates and Projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (cat. no 3238.0)
• Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia (cat.no. 4442.0)
• Child Care, Australia (cat. no. 4402.0)
• Pregnancy and Employment Transitions, Australia (cat. no. 4913.0)

Good Sports!

Participation in organised sporting activities is important for children’s social development as well as their motor coordination skills, teamwork and physical fitness.

In recent years, increasing awareness of the incidence of childhood obesity has particularly highlighted the desirability, on health grounds, for children to participate in regular physical activity.

The Research Paper: Children's Participation in Organised Sporting Activity, October 2009 (cat. no 1351.0.55.028) combines data from three surveys on Children’s Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, April 2009 (cat. no 4901.0) – conducted in 2000, 2003 and 2006 – to examine children’s participation in organised sporting activities.

The paper examines average rates of participation for children between the ages of six and fourteen years, and identifies a number of sociodemographic factors which influence the propensity for particular groups of children to participate.