Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the Australian government agency that collects and publishes statistical information about Australia and its people.

Population and Housing
The agency undertakes the Australian Census of Population and Housing. The Census is conducted every 5 years under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, Section 8. . The last Australian population census was held on August 8, 2006. Results from the 2006 Census will be available on the ABS web site from June 27, 2007. .

Research and Development
The ABS has been undertaking surveys to collect estimates from Australian organisations of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D in Australia since 1978. The results allow the nature and distribution of Australia's R&D activity to be monitored by government policy analysts and advisers to government, businesses and economists.

There are four surveys :
 * R&D Business survey, conducted annually
 * R&D Higher Education survey, conducted biennially
 * R&D General Government survey, conducted biennially
 * R&D Private Non-profit Sector survey, conducted biennially

Australian Standard Research Classification
The survey reports research against the Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC). The first ASRC was released in 1993 and was in use until 1998. It comprised three classification schemes; Type of Activity (TOA), Field of Research (FOR) and Socio-Economic Objective (SEO). In 1998, a second ASRC was released with a revised Socio-Economic Objective classification that used a different numbering range, and RFCDs instead of FORs, and a Research Field, Course and Discipline (RFCD) classification to replace FORs. This revised classification came into effect in the 2000 collection period, which was due on 31 August 2001.

TOA - R&D activity is categorised according to the type of research effort:
 * pure basic research,
 * strategic basic research,
 * applied research and
 * experimental development.

RFCD - This classification allows both R&D activity and other activity within the higher education sector to be categorised. Prior to ASRC 1998, this information was collected using a different set of indicators called Field of Research. It has been expanded in order that it can be used within the higher education sector to classify courses, units of study and teaching activity to field. The categories in the classification include recognised academic disciplines and related major sub-fields taught at universities or tertiary institutions, major fields of research investigated by national research institutions and organisations, and emerging areas of study.

SEO - This classification allows R&D to be categorised according to the purpose of the R&D as perceived by the researcher. It consists of discrete economic, social, technological or scientific domains for identifying the principal purpose of the R&D. The attributes applied to the design of the SEO Classification comprise a combination of processes, products, health, education and other social and environmental aspects of particular interest.

Year Book Australia
ABS produces an annual year book for Australia, called the Year Book Australia, which is the principal reference work produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It provides a comprehensive and detailed statistical overview of various aspects of the economy and social conditions in Australia.

In addition, it contains descriptive matter dealing with Australia’s geography and climate, government, international relations, defence, education, and the health and welfare support systems.

Australian Statistician
Since 1975, the head of the ABS has been known as the Australian Statistician. Previously, the office was titled the Commonwealth Statistician. A full list of all office-holders is at Australian Statistician.

The incumbent (since March 2007) is Brian Pink.