Presents the findings of a review of the Indigenous Status Standard, which provides the basis for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to collect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics.

Overview

The ABS Indigenous Status Standard which includes the Standard Indigenous Question (SIQ), is used by the ABS and many government and some non-government organisations. It enables the provision of consistent information from both statistical and administrative sources about people who identify as being of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin. The ABS undertook a review of the Indigenous Status Standard in 2013. The review examined the content of the Indigenous Standard to ensure it meets the needs of the ABS and other data collectors and data users. Stakeholders were asked to comment on a range of options; from retaining the existing Standard and SIQ as it is, through to proposing the development of a new Standard and SIQ. This paper outlines the main findings from the review process.