While the Australian Internet Usage Survey enables a national index score for a range of socio-demographics, its sample size does not collect large numbers of responses for every regional area. One way to adjust for this is to use a robust technique called Small Area Estimates (SAE) to provide a ‘probable’ Index score based on a range of demographic characteristics or attributes within a particular location and relating these to the national Index measure derived by the ADII team.

SAEs combine survey data with additional data from sources with broader coverage, such as the Australian Census. They are a valuable approach for enhancing the value and detail of survey results from a finite sample of participants.

In modelling SAEs for the Index, analysts at the Social Research Centre combine national AIUS survey data with the ABS Census to estimate Index scores at the State/Territory and Local Government Area levels.