1457Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander deaths by suicide in Australia

Background The fifth leading cause of death for Aboriginal people in Australia is suicide. These deaths are preventable, and their impact is significant for family and the wider community. This work aims to increase understanding of suicide deaths among Aboriginal people by describing these deaths by a range of factors, and identifying similarities and differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal deaths by suicide. Methods Suicide deaths in Australia from 2001 to 2019 will be identified from the National Coronial Information System database. Demographic factors, details of the deaths and geographic factors will be described, and comparisons will be made between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal deaths by suicide. Overall suicide rates by Aboriginal status and age- and sex-standardised rates per 100,000 person-years will be calculated using mid-year estimated resident population and death counts stratified by year, age, sex, and Aboriginal status from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Results The analysis for this work is currently underway and will be finalised prior to the conference. Conclusions The results of this research will provide information about sub-groups of the Aboriginal population and areas of Australia with heightened and reduced risks and rates of suicide. The findings will be interpreted with guidance from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee involved in this work. Findings will be shared with service providers, policymakers, communities, and researchers to enable improved targeting of interventions. Key messages Better understanding of Aboriginal deaths by suicide is critical to inform and improve the much-needed targeting of services and interventions.

Seropositivity and geographical distribution of Strongyloides stercoralis in Australia: A study of pathology laboratory data from 2012–2016

Background There are no national prevalence studies of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Australia, although it is known to be endemic in northern Australia and is reported in high risk groups such as immigrants and returned travellers. We aimed to determine the seropositivity (number positive per 100,000 of population and percent positive of those tested) and geographical distribution of S. stercoralis by using data from pathology laboratories. Methodology We contacted all seven Australian laboratories that undertake Strongyloides serological (ELISA antibody) testing to request de-identified data from 2012–2016 inclusive. Six responded. One provided positive data only. The number of people positive, number negative and number tested per 100,000 of population (Australian Bureau of Statistics data) were calculated including for each state/territory, each Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area Level 3 (region), and each suburb/town/community/locality. The data was summarized and expressed as maps of Australia and Greater Capital Cities. Principal findings We obtained data for 81,777 people who underwent serological testing for Strongyloides infection, 631 of whom were from a laboratory that provided positive data only. Overall, 32 (95% CI: 31, 33) people per 100,000 of population were seropositive, ranging between 23/100,000 (95% CI: 19, 29) (Tasmania) and 489/100,000 population (95%CI: 462, 517) (Northern Territory). Positive cases were detected across all states and territories, with the highest (260-996/100,000 and 17–40% of those tested) in regions across northern Australia, north-east New South Wales and north-west South Australia. Some regions in Greater Capital Cities also had a high seropositivity (112-188/100,000 and 17–20% of those tested). Relatively more males than females tested positive. Relatively more adults than children tested positive. Children were under-represented in the data. Conclusions/Significance The study confirms that substantial numbers of S. stercoralis infections occur in Australia and provides data to inform public health planning.

The relationship between traffic and non-traffic offending in Western Australia

Self-selection policing is an approach whereby serious underlying criminality is detected by an offender’s minor crimes (known as trigger offences). Strategic offences are offences that indicate an increased likelihood that the associated offender will engage in later offending. The purpose of this study was to determine if first-time serious traffic offending in Western Australia indicates previous and/or future non-traffic criminality, thereby demonstrating the utility of serious traffic offences as trigger offences and strategic offences. The authors collated the crime data of all first-time serious traffic offenders in Western Australia between December 2004 and December 2014. Using this data, survival analyses were conducted to determine if and when a first-time serious traffic offender committed an initial non-traffic offence within 10 years of their first serious traffic offence. When comparing this data to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the authors found that first-time serious traffic offenders are more likely than the average Western Australian to have a previous or future initial non-traffic offence. Some groups of first-time traffic offenders were more likely to commit non-traffic offences than others including males, individuals under the age of 25, drug drivers and drivers without authority. These results support the use of first-time serious traffic offences as trigger/strategic offences and could be used to identify and divert traffic offenders with versatile criminal histories and traffic offenders at risk of future criminal activity.

Advance The Impact of disability.docx

This paper describes the impact of disability in Australia on earning and learning. It is the fifth in a series of reports, commencing in 1999 and examined further in 2014, 2015 and 2019. The report is based on the official statistics on <i>Disability Ageing and Carers</i> by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019).

Advance 2 Not a pretty picture Psychosocial disability in Australia

<a>This paper describes the impact of psychosocial disabilities in Australia on vocational achievements. The report is based on the official statistics on <i>Disability Ageing and Carers</i> by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The major findings in relation to persons with a psychosocial disability are: (a) only 32% are in the labour force; (b) the proportion who are unemployed is 1.7 times that for those with no disability; (c) employment is reduced more than twice for those with some other disability; (d) larger proportions are working part-time than full-time; (e) there is some underlying impact on the types of occupations; (f) the median income is much less ($400 gross per week) than for other disabilities ($575.00 gross per week) or even no disability ($950.00 gross per week)</a><a></a> ; and (g) the workplace is by far the highest source of unfair treatment with 46,500 instances in the previous 12 months. It was concluded that most persons with a psychosocial disability do not participate in the labour market. When they do, they suffer higher levels of unemployment. When they get a job, it is more likely to be part-time. When they are employed substantial numbers face discrimination and restrictions.

Advance 2 Not a pretty picture Psychosocial disability in Australia

<a>This paper describes the impact of psychosocial disabilities in Australia on vocational achievements. The report is based on the official statistics on <i>Disability Ageing and Carers</i> by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The major findings in relation to persons with a psychosocial disability are: (a) only 32% are in the labour force; (b) the proportion who are unemployed is 1.7 times that for those with no disability; (c) employment is reduced more than twice for those with some other disability; (d) larger proportions are working part-time than full-time; (e) there is some underlying impact on the types of occupations; (f) the median income is much less ($400 gross per week) than for other disabilities ($575.00 gross per week) or even no disability ($950.00 gross per week)</a><a></a> ; and (g) the workplace is by far the highest source of unfair treatment with 46,500 instances in the previous 12 months. It was concluded that most persons with a psychosocial disability do not participate in the labour market. When they do, they suffer higher levels of unemployment. When they get a job, it is more likely to be part-time. When they are employed substantial numbers face discrimination and restrictions.

Advance The Impact of disability.docx

This paper describes the impact of disability in Australia on earning and learning. It is the fifth in a series of reports, commencing in 1999 and examined further in 2014, 2015 and 2019. The report is based on the official statistics on <i>Disability Ageing and Carers</i> by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019).

Synthetic Business Microdata

Enhancing microdata access is one of the strategic priorities for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in its transformation program. However, balancing the trade-off between enhancing data access and protecting confidentiality is a delicate act. The ABS could use synthetic data to make its business microdata more accessible for researchers to inform decision making while maintaining confidentiality. This study explores the synthetic data approach for the release and analysis of business data. Australian businesses in some industries are characterised by oligopoly or duopoly. This means the existing microdata protection techniques such as information reduction or perturbation may not be as effective as for household microdata. The research focuses on addressing the following questions: Can a synthetic data approach enhance microdata access for the longitudinal business data? What is the utility and protection trade-off using the synthetic data approach? The study compares confidentialised input and output approaches for protecting confidentiality and analysing Australian microdata from business survey or administrative data sources.