Communities NSW How we use the data!

1. Communities NSWHow we use the data! Dr Phi Hamdorf Director Research and Development

2. Purpose: To highlight specific case studies relating to the usage of ABS data within a multifaceted government department

3. What is Communities NSW? • Formed in July 2009 • Agencies, institutions and programs to deliver better community • services for NSW • NSW public sector reform - designed to ensure a greater focus on clients • and better integration of public services • Specifically: • Strengthens opportunities to be involved • Promotes the interests of specific population groups • Increases opportunities for participation • Invests in facilities and community, cultural and sporting infrastructure • Supports enterprise and employment • Enhances community safety • Facilitates sustainable management of culturally and historically significant parklands, assets and precincts • 3 clusters - Arts and Culture, Sport, Recreation and Parklands and Community Development (including regulation)

4. What is Communities NSW? • 24 agencies (including 6 major sporting and entertainment venues, 6 cultural institutions, 3 parklands and 5 divisions) • 3,000 FTE staff • 50 million customer contacts yearly • $10 billion assets • $1 billion recurrent budget - all income sources • Capital works $95 million per annum • One third of revenue is ‘self generated’ • Annually distribute $65 million in grants

6. Research and Development in CNSW • Centralised R&D unit • Provides support to CNSW entities • CNSW entities also have various levels of staffing dedicated to R&D and other data and statistical needs • External support

7. 7 Case Studies

8. CASE STUDY 1: Location of sport programs in NSW regions Issue: Sport and Recreation NSW Regional Offices run sport and physical activity programs in over 100 postcodes across NSW. Ascertain whether resources were being utilised in those postcodes most in need. Data Source: Analysis of postcodes using different measures of social disadvantage (SEIFA - the Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage). Derived from Census variables including income, educational attainment, unemployment and dwellings without motor vehicles. Different variables are weighted according to how strongly they are correlated to disadvantage. Every geographic area in Australia is given a SEIFA score which shows how disadvantaged that area is compared with other areas in Australia. All areas are ordered from the lowest to the highest score with the lowest 10% of areas given a decile number of 1 and so on, up to the highest 10% of areas which are given a decile number of 10. A lower score indicates that an area is relatively disadvantaged compared to an area with a higher score.

9. Proportion of postcodes by Decile of Disadvantage (NSW) Decile 10 2% Decile 9 1% Decile 8 2% Decile 7 4% Decile 6 11% Decile 5 19% Decile 4 11% Decile 3 24% Decile 2 26% Decile 1 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Output: Analysis: 91% of postcodes where programs were run in 2009/10 were ranked the most disadvantaged in NSW – Deciles 1 to 5. The largest proportion (26%) of postcodes with programs mirrored the most disadvantaged 10% in NSW – Decile 1.  Outcome: Sport and Recreation NSW established their resources were being utilised in areas which needed the programs most.

10. CASE STUDY 2: New Hotel Liquor Licences Issue: The Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority (CLGCA) grants a new liquor licence when satisfied that the overall social impact of the licence will not be detrimental to the well-being of the local or broader community. Data Source: In determining social impact, CLGCA takes into consideration stakeholder views and social profile data including demographic data from the ABS. Output: Comparison of the LGA population is made against the NSW average. Where local areas are unique in character a closer analysis of the local residential population is made.

11. Analysis: Examination of the Sydney LGA confirmed high concentrations of specific population subgroups, compared to the NSW average, which necessitated closer analysis. Outcome: CLGCA gave strong consideration to the characteristics of the local population in determining detrimental impact of the application. Application granted provided a security and management plan was adopted and the applicant implement a consultation plan to address local community concerns that may arise in the future.

12. CASE STUDY 3: Participation of Muslim women in learn-to-swim programs in NSW Issue: Sport and Recreation NSW delivers community-based learn to swim lessons throughout NSW for people of both genders and all age groups. Sport and Recreation NSW receives requests to run women-only swimming classes from women whose cultural beliefs prevented them from swimming in public pools or in mixed gender classes. The main groups of women being disadvantaged are Muslim. Data Source: Data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing was sourced (using TableBuilder) to ascertain the local government areas with the highest concentrations of Muslim women. Analysis: 10 local government areas in NSW (all in Sydney) accounted for more than four out of five Muslim women in NSW. LGAs with the highest concentration of Muslim women were Bankstown, Canterbury, Auburn and Liverpool (N=35,468) - nearly half of all Muslim women in NSW.

13. Output: Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing, 2006 Outcome: Negotiations with the relevant Councils to use the council-run facilities for women-only swimming classes. WimSwim designed to allow women and girls to learn new skills, practice their swimming and build their confidence in a female-only environment. Classes are run by female instructors in fully-enclosed and private pools and are well-attended by Muslim women.

14. CASE STUDY 4: CALD Needs Analysis • Issue: To inform Government funding and resource allocation for problem gamblers targeting people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. • Data Source: Data analysis sought to prioritise NSW CALD groups in terms of need for problem gambling help services through the consideration of the ABS Census of population and Housing 2006, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship settlement data, and problem gambling incidence data. • Output: Data allowed for an assessment of need for services between CALD communities based on: • • The size of the community • • The estimated numbers of problem gamblers within each community likely to seek help for their gambling • • The vulnerability of different communities based on the extent to which different communities experience various risk factors for problem gambling

15. Outcome: Dedicated language-specific services be available to the Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese-speaking communities Full report available at: www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/rr_napgcs.asp

16. CASE STUDY 5: A picture of NSW Children Issue: NSW Commission for Children and Young People - legislative responsibility to monitor and report on the safety, welfare and well-being of children in NSW. Data on children exist in several national and state collections - ‘A picture of NSW children’. Data Source: The publication uses the following ABS collections: • 2006 Census of Population and Housing (CURF data, customised table and table builder) • Births Australia • Childhood Education and Care (customised tables) • Children’s participation in cultural and leisure activities • Household Use of Information Technology • Labour force participation survey • Multi-Purpose Household Survey and National Health Survey • National Schools Statistics Collection • Population estimates and projections • Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (customised tables) • Survey of Education and Work (customised tables) • Survey of Mental Health and Well-being (customised tables)

17. Output: The Picture will be an interactive iPad app and web microsite. • Outcome: Policy and research professionals working in both government and non-government settings will have easy access to data on children through the app and microsite. • Publication released in sections in the second quarter of 2011.

18. CASE STUDY 6: Gaming Local Impact Assessment (LIA) Issue: To assess the impact of an additional gaming machine in a local government area a venue may be required to complete a Class LIA when applying for an increase to its number of gaming machines. The Class 2 LIA reports on relevant gaming, social data and issues of concern to help the Casino Liquor and Gaming Control Authority determine whether additional gaming machines will result in an overall benefit to the local community. Data Source: A Class 2 LIA is required to include gaming and social profile data including ABS demographic data for the relevant LGA.

19. Output: Population characteristics of the relevant community are assessed, considering demographic risk factors associated with potential problem gamblers. Analysis: The LIA must demonstrate that the proposed increase in gaming machines for the venue will have an overall positive impact on the relevant community. Where risks are identified in relation to the local population the applicant must demonstrate mechanisms to mitigate any potential impact. Outcome: Before approving an increase in the number of gaming machines the Casino Liquor and Gaming Control Authority gives strong consideration to the characteristics of the local population and how potential risks may be mitigated.

20. CASE STUDY 7: Programs for Indigenous people in NSW Issue: Sport and Recreation NSW sought funding for five years to create opportunities to promote sport, recreation and physical activity as tools of social change to those regional areas with the highest need, especially area with high proportions of Indigenous people. Data Source: Average proportion of Indigenous people in NSW is 2.1%. MapStats was used initially to visually identify the subdivisions in NSW with the highest proportion of Indigenous people. Two areas were selected - Upper Darling and Macquarie-Barwon – on the basis that they had more than 10 times the NSW average proportion of Indigenous people. Table Builder was then used to ascertain the Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest proportions of Indigenous people in NSW.

21. Analysis: All four LGAs in Macquarie-Barwon were in the top 12 LGAs – Walgett, Coonamble, Warren and Bogan (red bars). Several LGAs in Upper Darling also had high percentages (green bars).  Outcome: The location of a Sport and Recreation Development Officer in the Macquarie-Barwon region in the first year of funding to set up sport programs specifically for Indigenous people. Targeted four Local Government Areas in the first year of funding. A second Development Officer was recruited to duplicate this strategy in the other identified subdivision – the Upper Darling.

22. SUMMARY: Communities NSW utilises a wide range of data from the ABS in its day to day work to: • inform policy decisions and directions • facilitate effective and ongoing delivery of operational programs and activities • assist in compliance with government policies and legislation • provide vital information directly to practitioners, policy specialists, research professionals and the community

23. Thank You