Glossary of data terms

Australian Government data

Australian Government data covers all data lawfully collected, created or held by a Commonwealth body, or on its behalf. Data can include a wide range of topics. 

Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)

A classification of Australia into statistical geographic areas developed by the Australian Bureau of statistics(Opens in a new tab/window) (ABS). The ASGS reflects the location of people and communities. It’s used for the release and analysis of statistics and other data. The ASGS is updated every 5 years to account for growth and changes in Australia's population, economy and infrastructure. The ASGS includes the following areas that are also described in this glossary:

• Statistical Areas (SA1, SA2, SA3, SA4)
• Postal Areas and suburbs
• Remoteness Areas (RA)
• Indigenous Structures (Indigenous Locations (ILOCs), Indigenous Areas (IAREs), Indigenous Regions (IREGs).

Categorical data

Data that represents qualities or characteristics that can be grouped into categories, like gender or employment status.  

Community (location-based)

An interconnected group of people living in a shared geographic area with a common culture, values, traditions and/or lifestyles. 

Community-level data

Any information relevant to community and collected from a small population area. Data of relevance at the community level, including data that is significant to a community at the Service Area (SA2) level (between 3,000-25,000 people) where possible. SA2 areas are normally defined to broadly represent a community that interacts together socially and economically and are useful when trying to understand community-level issues. Learn more about Statistical Areas.

Dashboards

An interactive tool that tracks, analyses and displays data, aided by charts and analysis. Dashboards can help turn raw data into insights about a particular community or research question.  

Data custodians

People or organisations responsible for approving the use of their data in any integration project, in whole or in part.  

Data sharing

Where a data owner or ‘holder’ gives access to the data they hold in a controlled manner to help deliver outcomes. A government agency is an example of a data holder.

Data Sovereignty

The right for an entity, nation or individual to control and manage their own data, regardless of where that data came from and is stored. 

Digital Atlas

 A platform which provides national data in a central place for users to explore and use. The platform is delivered by Geoscience Australia. Learn more about the Digital Atlas.

Geospatial data

Data that highlights location-based information, such as coordinates or addresses. Examples include locations of schools and hospitals within a local government area.   

Geospatial mapping

Mapping that brings together different data about a place or region. This allows for quick visual comparisons of data in a map format. Maps allow you to combine location data with information such as demographics, social and economic characteristics.  

Indigenous Structures

A geographical standard for the publication and analysis of statistics about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. SA1s aggregate to the 3 hierarchical Indigenous structures. 

Indigenous Locations (ILOCs)

A representation of small Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (urban and rural) with a minimum population of about 90 people.

Indigenous Areas (IAREs)

Medium sized geographic areas built from whole Indigenous Locations. They are designed for the release and analysis of more detailed statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  

Indigenous Regions (IREGs)

Large geographical areas based on historical boundaries. The larger population of Indigenous Regions helps for highly detailed analysis. 

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

According to the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective(Opens in a new tab/window), Indigenous Data Sovereignty is defined as 

‘The right of Indigenous peoples to exercise ownership over Indigenous Data. Ownership of data can be expressed through the creation, collection, access, analysis, interpretation, management, dissemination and reuse of Indigenous Data.’ 

Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC) 

A 10-year collaboration between government and philanthropy(Opens in a new tab/window) to improve the wellbeing of children, young people, and their families, by working with communities to make long-term, intergenerational change.  

Qualitative data

A type of data that is collected in non-numerical forms, such as through interviews or observations. 

Qualitative data measures ‘types,’ which are variables that can be divided into groups. This information may be represented by a name, symbol, or number code. It aims to capture people’s opinions, feelings and experiences. For example, qualitative data may include:

• written records
• interviews
• photographs
• videos 
• diaries.

Quantitative data

Measures of values or counts that are expressed as numbers. They are data about numeric variables, for example how many, how much or how often. 

Linked data/data integration

The process of combining data from two or more sources at the unit level, for example the person and/or business level. Linked data is the result of data integration. 

Local Government Areas (LGAs)

A representation of local government boundaries, defined by each state and territory. LGAs are useful for understanding the characteristics of an individual local council area at a point in time. 

Modelling

The process of attempting to predict future conditions and outcomes using available data. Sometimes modelling can be used to estimate data for small geographic area that are not available in a higher-level dataset.  

National Agreement on Closing the Gap

An agreement between the Australian Government and the Coalition of Peaks(Opens in a new tab/window) to overcome the entrenched inequality faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, so that their life outcomes are equal to all Australians.    

Numerical data

Data that captures quantitative information that can be measured and expressed numerically, such as personal income or the number of births. 

Outcomes-focused funding

The Outcomes Fund makes contractual payments to states, territories and service providers based on the delivery of agreed, measurable outcomes in local communities.  

Place-based initiatives

Initiatives that work with communities to tailor policies and programs to the specific circumstances of a place. Learn more about place-based initiatives in the APS Guide to Working in Place.

Postal Areas (POAs)

A close approximation of postcode boundaries. There is not a one-for-one connection between Australia Post postcodes and POAs, but these are a good starting point to compare Census data with other data collected using postcodes. 

Priority Reform 4 

A commitment under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap(Opens in a new tab/window) to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to locally relevant data and information.   

Primary Health Networks (PHNs)

Organisations that assess the health care needs of their community and organise health services to meet those needs, minimising gaps or duplication. There are currently 31 PHNs across Australia, each responsible for its own region. These do not map onto the ABS’ statistical areas. 

Public data

Data collected or generated by the Australian Government. It may include demographic, location, health, education, economic, business or other information. 

Remoteness Areas

Remoteness Areas divide Australia into 5 groups of remoteness based on relative access to services. The 5 classes of remoteness are:

• Major Cities 
• Inner Regional
• Outer Regional
• Remote
• Very Remote.

Stakeholder

Any individual or organisation which may be affected by a decision.

Statistical areas

Different geographical unit used by many datasets based on population size. 

Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1s) 

Generally, the smallest geographic unit used to release Census of Population and Housing data. SA1s generally have a population of 200 to 800 people, and an average population of about 400 people. 

Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s) 

Medium-sized general-purpose areas. In 2021, there were 2,473 SA2s covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. SA2s are generally the smallest areas used for the release of ABS statistics (other than the Census of Population and Housing statistics), including Estimated Resident Population and Health and Vitals data. SA2s generally have a population between 3,000 and 25,000 with an average of about 10,000 people. SA2s in remote and regional areas generally have smaller populations than those in urban areas. 

Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3s) 

Geographic areas built from aggregating whole Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s). In 2021, there were 359 SA3s covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. In general, SA3s are designed to have populations between 30,000 and 130,000 people. However, the creation of meaningful regional areas takes priority over population criteria. As a result, there are some SA3s with populations above 130,000 or below 30,000. 

Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4s)

Geographic areas designed for regional data analysis. SA4s represent labour markets and the functional area of Australian capital cities. Most SA4s have a population of over 100,000 people.

Strengths-based approaches  

Approaches that empower communities to share their lived experiences and identify their preferred solutions, rather than solely being recognised as the negative issues they experience. A strengths-based approach frames individual and community experiences in terms of their self-identified assets and existing strengths, and addresses impeding factors affecting resilience and strength.

Text data

Data that includes unstructured information in the form of written text. Examples include articles, social media posts or customer reviews.   

Time series data

Data that tracks values at regular intervals. It can be used to analyse how a measure, such as median age of a community or unemployment rate, changes over time.  

Toolkit

A collection of resources that help people apply best practices through advice and guidance. In this context, a series of tools and web-based resources designed for individuals and organisations working with community-level data.  

Unit-record level data

Datasets of unit records where each record or row in a table has information about an individual person, organisation or other type of unit. These can include individual responses to a census, survey or administrative form.

Understanding, measurement, evaluation and learning (UMEL)

The collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative evidence to understand the current state, measure progress and continuously evaluate the impact of initiatives for refinement.