The changing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population: evidence from the 2006–11 Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset

Abstract Populations change and grow through time. Keeping track of this change and associated improvements or worsening in outcomes is a key role for statistical agencies and researchers, and is necessary for an informed and evidence-based policy debate. This is no truer than for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (generally referred to as Indigenous Australians throughout the rest of this paper). Despite making up only a small percentage of the total Australian population, Indigenous people are a key focus of policy discussion in Australia, with a number of targets set by government against which progress is evaluated. The release of the Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset (ACLD) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the form of aggregate data in late 2013 and individual data in late 2014 provides an opportunity to better understand and evaluate the changing nature of the Indigenous population between 2006 and 2011. For the first time, it is possible to compare the identified Indigenous status for an individual in one year with their identified status in previous years using census data. Furthermore, the ACLD provides the first opportunity to look at the changing socioeconomic circumstances of Indigenous Australians, and compare these circumstances with the rest of the population. This paper provides a summary of such an analysis with the aim of spurring additional research and policy discussion

Mapping the Field: Out-of-School-Time STEM Programs for K-12 Females

Out-of-school-time (OST) STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs for females serve as one strategy to increase females’ interest and dispositions in STEM and as a proposed intervention to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. The purpose of this study was to extend previous OST research by investigating OST STEM programs for the subpopulation of females in grades kindergarten through 12. This research contributes to efforts to investigate OST programming by mapping a national sample of OST STEM programs for K-12 females. To determine common features and practices of programs the researcher analyzed 115 websites, 51 survey responses and six interviews with program directors from 38 states. Additionally, it represents all grade levels K-12 and a variety of residential and day-only programs. The findings from this study elaborate on aspects of program design, structure, content, evaluation, funding, staffing and youth audience and thus strengthen knowledge of effective OST practices and the research base on OST STEM programming for females

The novel use of life grids in a phenomenological study of family carers of people with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities and Dysphagia

Life grids have been used in qualitative studies for the last two decades. They provide an activity which researcher and participant can focus their attention on, help build rapport, and reduce the control the researcher may hold within a session. Here we describe the novel use of life grids at the end of a data collection phase. Used in this previously unreported way, life grids assisted the closure of the data collection phase by summarizing the data collection and marking departure from the field. Creation of a life grid produced a tangible outcome, evidencing the work undertaken within the data collection period. They served as a powerful member checking tool, allowing participants to make additions and corrections to the data. In this article, the use of life grids in this novel way is described and recommended by the authors.</jats:p

Vocational Education Participation and Attainment Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: Trends 2002-2015 and Employment Outcomes

This report examines trends in participation in vocational education and training, and attainment of vocational qualifications, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during 2002–15. The report also investigates whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a higher-level vocational qualification are more likely to subsequently gain employment than those with a lower-level vocational qualification. Our analysis uses data from the Australian Census of Population and Housing, and the Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset; national social surveys of the Indigenous population conducted in 2002, 2008 and 2014–15; and annual vocational education and training statistics produced from administrative collections and related surveys managed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research. The percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15–64 years who had a Certificate III or higher-level qualification increased substantially from 15% in 2002 to 34% in 2014–15. Most of the increase occurred at the Certificate III or IV level; among Indigenous women aged 15–64 years, the percentage with a qualification at this level more than tripled from 6% in 2002 to 22% in 2014–15. Our analyses confirm that, among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, those with any level of education beyond compulsory schooling are more likely to subsequently gain employment than those without a post-school qualification. There is weak evidence to suggest that, in major cities, having a higher-level vocational qualification confers an employment advantage compared with lower-level vocational qualifications (after controlling for other observable characteristics), perhaps reflecting both the higher demand for, and supply of, skilled labour in metropolitan areas. In contrast, in regional areas, there is no significant difference between the employment outcomes of those with higher-level vocational qualifications and those with lower-level vocational qualifications. Human welfare studies and services, and business and management-related courses were among the most common fields of study undertaken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men completing Certificate III qualifications in each year from 2010 to 2014. Our findings are discussed with reference to changes in the Australian labour market during the past two decades

Preschool participation

Results of the 2016 Census show that, at a national level, the preschool participation rate among Indigenous children has increased substantially over the past decade. Furthermore, preschool participation rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children have converged over this period, most markedly in the Northern Territory. Preschool participation rates among Indigenous children varied between and within jurisdictions, but (based on analysis at the fairly broad geographical level of Indigenous region) increased in all but a few regions. While preschool participation rates among Indigenous children have generally increased, children in relatively disadvantaged circumstances, who might gain the most from a preschool service that meets their needs, are less likely to be attending. Rates of preschool participation were markedly lower among children (whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous) living in households with no employed parent, compared with children living in households where a parent was employed. This may be partly because parents who are not employed have less need for the child care provided by preschool. However, limited financial resources and various other factors are likely to affect these families� ability to access preschool.Funding for this project was provided by the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Changing associations of selected social determinants with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health & wellbeing, 2002 to 2012-13

This report uses data from national health and social surveys of the Indigenous population, conducted between 2002 and 2012-13, to examine whether associations of some key social determinants with selected health and wellbeing outcomes changed over that time. Consistently during the decade, employment status and housing tenure were significantly associated with a range of health and wellbeing outcomes for the Indigenous population. As education levels have increased among the Indigenous population, the association of education with health and wellbeing has weakened. This suggests that at least some of the association of education with health and wellbeing is attributable to other characteristics of individuals or educational institutions not captured in our models, not just the outcome of the education process itself. Improvements in some health and wellbeing outcomes in remote areas, despite declining employment over the decade, suggest that more detailed analysis is required to shed light on whether associations between the selected social determinants of health and wellbeing differ for Indigenous people living in remote and nonremote areas

Indigenous participation in arts and cultural expression, and the relationship with wellbeing:results from the 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey

The analysis presented in this report shows that, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, better outcomes for socioeconomic indicators such as employment, education and income are positively associated with participation in arts and cultural expression. There is also strong evidence that those who participate in arts and cultural activities are more likely to have higher levels of subjective wellbeing. Notions of 'cultural participation' and 'wellbeing' are complex and multidimensional, and further research is needed to distinguish between selection effects - whereby individuals with more resources or higher wellbeing levels are more likely to participate in arts and cultural activities - and the benefits to individual wellbeing resulting from arts and cultural participation

Who Cares and does it matter for the labour market? A longitudinal analysis of the labour force status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous carers

Indigenous Australians experience higher rates of severe or profound disability than other Australians, and the gap in rates of disability between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians increases with age. The relativelyhigh rates of disability among the Indigenous population corresponds with heavy caring burdens. It has been well established that carers of a person with a disability have lower rates of paid employment than dononcarers. However, relatively little is known about the effect of caring on the employment rates of Indigenous carers and virtually nothing about the effect of caring on changes in labour force status. This paper uses the recently released Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset to, for the first time, describe the labour market dynamics of Indigenous and non-Indigenous carers, and the extent to which these differ from the dynamics of thosewho are not carers. By exploiting the longitudinal nature of the data, we can examine how labour force status changes in association with starting as a carer and exiting from caring. Employment probabilities and labour force transitions are analysed using bivariate and multivariate techniques. The analysis raises questions about how caring decisions are made within households and the extent to which the costs of caring may differ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous households

Attitudes and Practices of Australian Veterinary Professionals and Students towards Early Age Desexing of Cats

Surgical desexing of cats is typically carried out after six months of age (Mature Age Desexing, MAD); between 4–6 months (Traditional Age Desexing, TAD); or before four months (EarlyAge Desexing, EAD). We complemented existing surveys of veterinarians’ acceptance of EAD with online and face-to-face surveys, to ascertain the preferred desexing ages for cats and rationale of 957 Australian veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary science students, and veterinary nursing students. A complementary survey of 299 veterinary practice websites across Australia documented any information provided about desexing cats. The most common reason for preferred desexing ages was reducing stray cat populations (30%); 78% of these respondents chose ages aligning with EAD. Vet nurses and nursing students were more conservative than vets or vet students, preferring to desex cats \u3e4 months. Perceived anaesthetic risk was a major motivation, especially for nurses 5 years’ experience. Across 299 urban practices in Australian capital cities, 55% of surveyed websites provided no information about desexing cats or listed desexing without explaining why it was necessary, or when to perform it. Increasingly, Australian legislatures mandate desexing of cats by three months of age, so the practices of some current/future veterinary professionals do not match changing legislation