Settlement Reporting Facility (SRF) Glossary

Settlement Database

The Settlement Database (SDB) has been developed to provide statistical data for government and community agencies involved in the planning and provision of migrant settlement services.

As SDB data is used for planning, targeting and evaluation of settlement services it is ‘dynamic’ meaning that individual client records are updated as new information become available.

It brings together data from various departmental systems used to process migration applications both in Australia and in overseas posts and a number of external sources including Medicare Australia.

The Settlement Database (SDB) contains the following records:

• Permanent visas issued and arrivals of visaed settlers processed overseas
• Permanent residence grants processed in Australia.

As some of the data collected is not mandatory and provided on a voluntary basis, some reports may contain items listed as ‘not stated’.

1. Geographical definitions

Australian Standard Geographic Classifications (ASGC)

The Settlement Database uses the Australian Standard Geographic Classifications (ASGC) to classify geographic area. The ASGC provides a framework of statistical geography for the production of comparable statistics amongst government and non-governmental agencies.  

The SDB collects address data as a postcode and then transforms postcode into geographical areas based on the ASGC.

To support users, reports can be produced using either of the two main ASGC geographic classification structures. 

The structure on the left is main ASGC structure and covers the whole of Australia through four levels of hierarchy without gaps or overlaps. The Statistical Local Areas (SLA) aggregate to form Statistical Subdivisions (SSD) which in turn aggregate to form Statistical Divisions (SD) and the Statistical Divisions aggregate to form States and Territories.

The Local Government Areas (LGA) structure shown on the right is distinct from the main ASCG structure as it only covers the incorporated areas of Australia.

Although LGAs are used widely, as incorporated areas they are under local government (councils) control and are often subject to change.

More information about the ASGC structure is available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website.
See: ABS

State

For the purposes of the SDB data collection, ‘State’ refers to both the six federal States of Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia), two mainland Territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) and External Territories (Norfolk, Christmas Island, etc).

State data may be a combination of intended and actual State of residence.

Statistical Division (SD)

A Statistical Division (SD) is the largest ABS defined geographic unit within Australia.
Example: the Greater Sydney SD.

A Statistical Division is comprised of one or more Statistical Subdivisions (SSD).

Statistical Division aggregates to form States or Territories without gaps or overlaps.
See: ABS

Statistical Subdivision (SSD)

A Statistical Subdivision SSD is a intermediate sized ABS defined geographical unit between the SLA (smaller) and the SD (larger) in the Main Structure.
Example: the Central Western Sydney SSD.

Sydney SD            Central Western Sydney SSD           Auburn SLA

Statistical Subdivisions are made up of smaller Statistical Local Areas and in turn aggregate to form the larger spatial units of Statistical Divisions.
See: ABS

Statistical Local Area (SLA)

The Statistical Local Area (SLA) is the smallest ABS-defined unit that can be reported on using the Settlement Reporting Facility, for example the Parramatta SLA, Botany Bay SLA or Bankstown SLA. SLAs aggregate directly to form the larger spatial units of SSDs in the Main Structure.

In this edition of the ASGC, there are 1426 SLAs in Australia including one SLA for each of the three Territories of Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
See: ABS

Local Government Area (LGA)

Local Government Areas (LGA) cover only the incorporated areas of Australia or those areas in which incorporated local governments (councils) have responsibility. For eg.
Example: Manly, Fairfield.

The number of LGAs and their boundaries is the responsibility of the respective State/Territory Governments. LGAs are proclaimed by various State government authorities and are gazetted throughout the year.

The major areas of Australia not covered by incorporated bodies are the northern parts of South Australia, most of the Northern Territory and all of the Australian Capital Territory and the other Territories.
See: ABS

Regional/ Metropolitan flags

The Regional and Metropolitan definitions have been determined by the Settlement Grants Program Section (SGP) within the Settlement Branch, and used for Settlement purposes only. This selection criterion can be used to limit the reported data to those entrants who have settled in the SGP defined Metropolitan or Regional parts of Australia.

The following Statistical Divisions (SDs) and Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) have been defined by the SGP Section as metropolitan regions. All other regions are considered rural/ regional for 2010–11.

State/Territory	Metropolitan	Regional
VIC	Melbourne Statistical Division	All other areas of Victoria
ACT	Canberra Statistical Division	All other areas of the ACT
NSW	Sydney SD, Newcastle - Inner City SLA, Newcastle - Outer West SLA, Newcastle – Throsby SLA, Wollongong – Inner SLA, Wollongong – Bal. SLA	All other areas of NSW
NT	Darwin Statistical Division	All other areas of the Northern Territory
QLD	Brisbane SD, Gold Coast SD, Sunshine Coast SD	All other areas of Queensland
SA	Adelaide Statistical Division	All other areas of South Australia
TAS	Greater Hobart SD	All other areas of Tasmania
WA	Perth Statistical Division	All other areas of Western Australia

• If the button N/A is clicked or no choice is made, then the default is that both Regional and Metropolitan areas are selected.
• If the button Include is clicked then the report will only include applicants in the Metropolitan areas.
• If the button Exclude is clicked then the report will exclude applicants in the Regional areas.
  See: Fact Sheet 92 - Settlement Grants Program

2. Definition of language related terms

Main Language

There are approximately 300 different languages recorded in the Settlement database.

This information is available only for persons aged five years and over at the time of visa grant. The data is obtained from a number of different sources, depending on the migration stream.

For persons who enrol for AMEP tuition after arrival in Australia, the data comes from the ARMS database.

‘Main Language’ can be selected as a criterion and a filter, to allow reporting for all or specific languages. When used as a filter, there are two options available – Main Language (direct) and Main Language (regions). The first provides individual languages whilst the second allows selection from broader regional groupings to sub-groups then to individual languages. These include:

• Northern, Southern and Eastern European languages
• South-West Asian and Northern African languages
• Southern, Southeast and Eastern Asian languages
• Australian Indigenous languages, and/or Other languages.

Then selections can be made from sub groups, and finally individual languages.

English Proficiency (EP)

This information is available only for persons aged five years and over at the time of visa grant.

The collection of EP has a high level of ‘not stated’ results.

• For persons aged 18 years and over who apply under the Skilled Migration stream, the EP data comes directly from the processing system based on a formal English language test undertaken by the applicant
• For Humanitarian entrants the EP information is entered directly into the visa processing system at the time of application
• For Family stream entrants (persons aged five years and older), EP level is self-assessed
• For entrants aged 18 years and over who enrol for English language classes after arrival in Australia, EP data comes from the Adult Migration English Program (AMEP). This information overwrites any previously collected EP data on that person’s record.

The levels of spoken English proficiency that can appear in the reports are:

• Very good
• Good
• Poor
• Nil
• Not stated.

3. Definition of migration terms

Migration stream

‘Migration stream’ is a collection of related visa subclasses, grouped together by their purpose of entry. Example: ‘Humanitarian’ or ‘Family’.

It can be selected as a criterion in gaining a more rounded view on visa or settlement trends across a certain group of visa holders, encompassing several visa subclasses.

At present there are three primary migration streams. More information can be obtained at the following links:

• Skilled
  See: Fact Sheet 24 - Overview of Skilled Migration to Australia

• Family
  See: Fact Sheet 29 - Overview of Family Stream Migration

• Humanitarian
  See: Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program

Visa subclass

A ‘visa subclass’ is a unique number which sets out which particular visa type a person has been granted to enter Australia.
Example: subclass 200 – Refugee visa.

It is a mandatory item that is recorded for each person approved overseas for migration, as well as each person approved for permanent residency when in Australia.

‘Visa subclass’ can also be used as a selection criterion and a filter.

Principal

A visa applicant who is assessed against the primary criteria for a visa subclass.

Dependent

A visa applicant who is assessed against the secondary criteria of a visa subclass and has a relationship to the Primary applicant.
Example: Spouse, Child, De facto, Sibling, Parent.

Grant Date

‘Grant Date’ refers to the date on which a visa was granted to a person who applied for a permanent visa.

4. Definition of demographic data

Country of Birth

‘Country of Birth’ is recorded for each person approved for residence in Australia.

The SDB contains over 300 countries of birth. ‘Country of Birth’ can be  selected as a criterion or a filter to limit the report to specified World Regions, sub-regions, or individual countries.
Note: Country of Birth may not always reflect an entrant’s ethnicity.
Example: a couple from South Africa may move to China for work and have a child born there whose COB would be identified as China PRC. They may move again after five years to New Zealand, and have another child there and this child’s COB will be identified as New Zealand.

Tip: When seeking data from the SRF on particular ethnic groups, use a 3-way report and pick COB (World Region), FY/CY of Arrival and Ethnicity as criteria, then filter by COB (World Region) down to regional level
Example: All African and Middle East regions for any African ethnic group or all of Asia for any Asian ethnic group.

World Region

‘World Region’ is based on ‘Country of Birth’ data and consists of the following ABS defined groupings:

• Africa (excluding North Africa)
• Europe and Former USSR
• North America
• North-East Asia
• Oceania and Antarctica
• South America, Central America, Caribbean
• South-East Asia
• Southern Asia
• The Middle East/North Africa.

‘World Region’can be used as a criterion and a filter, to limit the report obtain all or specified World Regions or sub-regions.

Age

‘Age’ is calculated from the item ‘Date of Birth’, which is recorded on a mandatory basis. It is asreported as ‘Age on Arrival’, and will be reported in the following age groupings:

• < 6 yrs
• 6–11 yrs
• 12–15 yrs
• 16–17 yrs
• 18–24 yrs
• 25–34 yrs
• 35–44 yrs
• 45–54 yrs
• 55–64 yrs
• 65 + yrs.

Occupation

This data item describes a settler’s usual occupation prior to visa grant or arrival in Australia.

The collection of occupation has a high level of ‘not stated’, 'unknown' or 'not recorded' results as this is not a mandatory field except where it is a visa requirement for Skilled visa applicants.

Marital Status

This data item is collected from the department visa processing systems.

It contains the following categories:

• Married
• Never Married
• De Facto
• Engaged
• Divorced
• Widowed
• Separated.

The collection of marital status data has a high level of ‘not stated’ or 'unknown' results.

Ethnicity

‘Ethnicity’ provides a description of the ethnic background of entrants beyond the information available in the ‘Country of Birth’ and ‘Main Language’ data items. There are over 350 ethnic groups recorded in the SDB.

This information is mostly available for persons who arrived under the offshore Humanitarian program. For the Skilled and Family programs it is not a mandatory field, hence the collection of Ethnicity data has a high level of ‘not stated’ or ‘unknown’ results.

‘Ethnicity’ can be selected as a criterion and a filter to allow reporting for all or specific ethnic group.

Religion

There are about 140 different religions recorded in the SDB. This information is available only for persons aged five years and over at the time of visa issue.

The collection of this data item commenced in April 1994 and is not mandatory. It is obtained voluntarily. It has been collected from Humanitarian entrants since the start of the 1999–00 financial year.

‘Religion’ can be selected as a criterion and a filter to allow reporting for all or specific religions.

When used as a filter, it will first allow selection from the broad groups Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and/or Other Religions, and then into sub groups and finally individual religions.

Gender

‘Gender’ can contain the following descriptions:

• Female
• Male
• Indeterminate
• Unknown
• Not stated.

Years of Education

‘Years of education’ refers to the number of completed years attended at school and tertiary institutions (university or technical/trade college).

This information is obtained from several sources, on both a mandatory and voluntary basis. Data given is valid as at the time of visa issue, and does not include any education that may have been undertaken after arrival in Australia.

One exception to this is if a person registers for AMEP tuition. In such cases further updates are made to the ‘Years of Education’ data via the ARMS database as the person undertakes AMEP tuition.

Arrival Date

For migrants granted a permanent visa while residing in Australia, ‘arrival date’ refers to the arrival date entry prior to permanent visa grant.

For those granted a permanent visa while outside of Australia, ‘arrival date’ refers to their next date of entry into Australia after the visa grant.

Citizenship

The applicant has met the requirements to become an Australian Citizen and has been officially granted Australian citizenship with its privileges and responsibilities.
Note: When Citizenship is selected either as a criterion or a filter, the only data shown is that of settlers who have acquired Australian citizenship.