Demographic information systems for Aboriginal development

The lack of accurate information about Aboriginal populations is frustrating for community members, service providers and governments.  The Australian census provides only a snapshot and has known data quality problems.  Education, health and employment programs know how many people they serve but often know very little about the larger group who do not use their service.

The Mid West region is home to the Yamaji people.  Social Dimensions is working with their representatives and other partners to develop innovative methods to measure the size and characteristics of the Aboriginal population and how these change over time.  The core technique would be a household information system which would regularly contact Yamaji households.  The collection, storage and dissemination of information would be strictly regulated by an Aboriginal controlled board.

The project is at the feasibility scoping stage to determine if a Yamaji Social and Demographic Information System (YSDIS) is technically feasible, acceptable to the Aboriginal community and would have local and national benefits.