Approaches to analysing the Indigenous Social Survey
Lujuan Chen
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Contact Email:   lujuan.chenabs.gov.au

In 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) conducted its first Indigenous Social Survey (ISS). The survey provides information about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia on a wide range of areas of social concern including health, education, culture and labour force participation.

The ISS dataset is expected to provide a rich foundation for analyses of matters relating to the Indigenous population. The ABS is currently undertaking its first multivariate analyses of the data, with a view to:

· highlighting some key areas of socioeconomic concern in the Indigenous population;
· exploring linkages between and within the key areas of concern;
· providing insight into variations in the patterns of socioeconomic outcomes among Indigenous people living in urban, regional and remote areas;
· undertaking some comparisons with the non-Indigenous population (using data gathered in the ABS General Social Survey);
· suggesting refinements to the way the ABS conducts the ISS.

In this paper, we will discuss:
· our broad strategy for undertaking multivariate analyses of the ISS data;
· the variables to be analysed:
- selecting key socioeconomic areas of concern;
- selecting variables which best capture the key phenomena of interest within each area of concern;
-.selecting groups within the Indigenous population;
· data modelling techniques; and
· limitations of the analysis.

The aim of the paper is to invite suggestions regarding the analytical strategy and the questions that will be investigated.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Paper30.pdf

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