Person—geographic remoteness, PBS classification (ASGS-RA) X

Identifying and definitional attributes
Metadata item type:	Data Element
Short name:	Geographic remoteness of person (PBS-specific code)
METEOR identifier:	617061
Registration status:	Commonwealth Department of Health, Retired 19/10/2023
Definition:	The remoteness of a location at which a person lives, based on the physical road distance to the nearest urban centre and its population size, as represented by a code.
Data Element Concept:	Person—geographic remoteness
Value Domain:	Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) remoteness classification (ASGS-RA) X

Value domain attributes
Representational attributes
Classification scheme:	Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2011
Representation class:	Code
Data type:	String
Format:	X
Maximum character length:	1
	Value	Meaning
Permissible values:	1	Major cities of Australia
	2	Inner and Outer regional Australia
	3	Remote and Very remote Australia
Supplementary values:	U	Unknown

Collection and usage attributes
Guide for use:	This value domain is intended exclusively for use in the analysis of data relating to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In the context of PBS data, the allocation of remoteness categories is based on the postcodes of patients, prescribers or pharmacies, as appropriate. Postcode areas are converted to Statistical Area Level 1s (SA1s) which are then used to allocate remoteness categories. CODE 1 Major cities of Australia 'Major cities of Australia' includes postcode areas that correspond with SA1s with an average Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA+) index value of 0 to 0.2. This code approximates Code 1 in the more widely used value domain Remoteness classification (ASGS-RA) N. CODE 2 Inner and Outer regional Australia 'Inner regional Australia' includes postcode areas that correspond with SA1s with an average ARIA+ index value greater than 0.2 and less than or equal to 2.4. 'Outer regional Australia' includes postcode areas that correspond with SA1s with an average ARIA+ index value greater than 2.4 and less than or equal to 5.92. This code approximates Codes 2 and 3 in the more widely used value domain Remoteness classification (ASGS-RA) N. CODE 3 Remote and Very remote Australia 'Remote Australia' includes postcode areas that correspond with SA1s with an average ARIA+ index value greater than 5.92 and less than or equal to 10.53. 'Very remote Australia' includes postcode areas that correspond with SA1s with an average ARIA+ index value greater than 10.53. This code approximates Codes 4 and 5 in the more widely used value domain Remoteness classification (ASGS-RA) N.
Collection methods:	In this value domain, physical distance is defined in terms of ARIA+ index values, rather than a simple linear distance between points.
Comments:	Prior to 2011, ARIA+ scores were calculated for individual Census Collection Districts (CCDs). Following the phasing out of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) and the introduction of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) by the ABS in 2011, ARIA+ scores are calculated for individual Statistical Area Level 1s (SA1s).

Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:	Department of Health
Steward:	Department of Health and Aged Care
Origin:	Publications detailing the ASGS remoteness classification are available free of charge from the ABS website: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013. 1270.055.005 - Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 5 - Remoteness Structure, July 2011. Viewed 15 July 2013, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/ 1270.0.55.005July%202011?OpenDocument
Reference documents:	Information relating to the development of the ARIA and ARIA+ scores by the National Centre for Social Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GISCA) is available from the APMRC website: Australian Population and Migration Research Centre (APMRC) 2013. ARIA (Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia). Viewed 15 July 2013, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/apmrc/research/projects/ category/about_aria.html

Data element attributes
Collection and usage attributes
Guide for use:	The remoteness classification of an entity can be derived using characteristics of its physical location, e.g. its postcode or other address details. The remoteness classification (RA1 to RA5) can be found by entering the postcode or other address details of the person's residence into the Commonwealth Department of Health's Remoteness area locator, available on the DoctorConnect website. The website can be accessed via the following link: http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/ Content/locator
Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:	Department of Health
Reference documents:	Commonwealth Department of Health 2014. DoctorConnect. Viewed 23 April 2014, http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/ Content/locator
Relational attributes
Implementation in Data Set Specifications: All attributes +	Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) state/territory data extract 2013-14 Commonwealth Department of Health, Retired 19/10/2023 DSS specific attributes + Implementation start date: 01/07/2013 Implementation end date: 30/06/2014 DSS specific information: Variable name = PTNT_RA In the context of PBS data, this data element describes the geographic remoteness of the patient, and is based on the postcode of the most recent patient address details reported to the Department of Human Services (DHS).