Definition
Components
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Data Element ConceptPerson—Indigenous status
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Object ClassPerson
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PropertyIndigenous status
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Value DomainIndigenous status code N
Representation
This representation is based on the value domain for this data element, more information is available at " Indigenous status code N ".| Data Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Format | N |
| Maximum character length | 1 |
| Value | Meaning | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permissible Values | 1 | Aboriginal but not Torres Strait Islander origin | ||
| 2 | Torres Strait Islander but not Aboriginal origin | |||
| 3 | Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin | |||
| 4 | Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander origin | |||
| Supplementary Values | 9 | Not stated/inadequately described |
Comments
National Health Data Committee
National Community Services Data Committee
Comments:The following definition, commonly known as 'The Commonwealth Definition', was given in a High Court judgement in the case of Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 46 ALR 625.
'An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she lives'.
There are three components to the Commonwealth definition:
- descent;
- self-identification; and
- community acceptance.
In practice, it is not feasible to collect information on the community acceptance part of this definition in general purpose statistical and administrative collections and therefore standard questions on Indigenous status relate to descent and self-identification only.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1999. Standards for Social, Labour and Demographic Variables. Cultural Diversity Variables, Canberra. Viewed 3 August 2005.
This content Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare material. Attribution provided as required under the AIHW CC-BY licence.