Background
Ethnicity is an important factor when attempting to identify and address drivers of health inequalities. The Australian Population Census lacks a specific question about ethnicity and there is currently no agreement on how to use existing variables (such as ancestry) to describe ethnicity for the purposes of public health research. 

 

Aims
This report aims to describe the processes and outcomes of a series of expert panel meetings convened to determine how best to use existing Census data to accurately describe Australia’s complex ethnic diversity.  

Methods
Panel members were selected for their professional and academic expertise in fields such as population health, biostatistics, epidemiology, and demography. A combined theoretical- and data-driven approach was applied to develop a series of questions to initiate panel discussions, which continued until consensus was reached.   

 

While potential risks and limitations were acknowledged, consensus was reached that it would be reasonable to: 

·         Present greater granularity of data than current approaches by presenting results for the 50 most populous groups with the addition of smaller key groups where possible. 

·         Group people with more than one reported ancestry into relevant multi-ethnic categories.  

·         Create an ‘Anglo-Celtic’ category combining Australian, English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish ancestries. 

·         Recategorize responses listing Australian plus another ethnicity by removing ‘Australian’.

 

A pathway has been forged to better use existing Census data for research on ethnicity and health in Australia. This will improve identification of inequalities and inform public health policy. 

 

Fiona Stanaway1, Bree McDonald2
 
 

1.     University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006

2.     Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605