Person—area of usual residence, statistical area level 2 (SA2) code (ASGS 2016) N(9)

Identifying and definitional attributes
Metadata item type:	Data Element
Short name:	Area of usual residence (SA2)
METEOR identifier:	659725
Registration status:	Early Childhood, Superseded 15/08/2023 Health, Superseded 20/10/2021 Tasmanian Health, Superseded 08/03/2023
Definition:	The geographical region in which a person or group of people usually reside, as represented by a Statistical area level 2 (SA2) code.
Data Element Concept:	Person—area of usual residence
Value Domain:	Statistical area level 2 (SA2) code (ASGS 2016) N(9)

Value domain attributes
Representational attributes
Classification scheme:	Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2016
Representation class:	Code
Data type:	String
Format:	N(9)
Maximum character length:	9

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:

SA2 coding structure:

An SA2 is identifiable by a 9-digit fully hierarchical code. The SA2 identifier is a 4-digit code, assigned in alphabetical order within a Statistical area level 3 (SA3). An SA2 code is only unique within a state/territory if it is preceded by the state/territory identifier.

For example:

State/territory	SA4	SA3	SA2
N	NN	NN	NNNN

Comments:

There are 2,310 SA2 regions covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. These include 18 non-spatial SA2 special purpose codes, comprising Migratory–Offshore–Shipping and No Usual Address codes for each State and Territory.

The Other Territories of Jervis Bay, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island are each represented by a SA2 in the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard.

Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:	Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Origin:	Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas July 2016. ABS cat. no. 1270.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:

The geographical location is reported using an eleven digit numerical code to indicate the SA2 region within the reporting state or territory, as defined in the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Collection methods:

When collecting the geographical location of a person's usual place of residence, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recommends that 'usual' be defined as: 'The place where the person has or intends to live for 6 months or more, or the place that the person regards as their main residence, or where the person has no other residence, the place they currently reside.' Apart from collecting a person's usual place of residence there is also a need in some collections to collect area of residence immediately prior to or after assistance is provided, or at some other point in time.

Comments:

Geographical location is reported using SA2 to enable accurate aggregation of information to larger areas within the ASGS as well as detailed analysis at the SA2 level. The use of SA2 also allows analysis relating the data to information compiled by the ABS on the demographic and other characteristics of the population of each SA2. Analyses facilitated by the inclusion of SA2 information include:

comparison of the use of services by persons residing in different geographical areas;
characterisation of catchment areas and populations for establishments for planning purposes; and
documentation of the provision of services to residents of states or territories other than the state or territory of the provider.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Reference documents:

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas July 2016. ABS cat. no. 1270.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:

Implementation in Data Set Specifications:

All attributes +

Activity based funding: Mental health care NBEDS 2018-19

Health, Superseded 12/12/2018

Person—area of usual residence, statistical area level 2 (SA2) code (ASGS 2016) N(9)

Data Element Attributes

Identifying and definitional attributes

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Source and reference attributes

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Source and reference attributes

Relational attributes

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