Data element attributes |
Collection and usage attributes |
Guide for use: | The terms sex and gender are interrelated, and are often used interchangeably, however they are distinct concepts: - Sex is understood in relation to sex characteristics. Sex recorded at birth refers to what was determined by sex characteristics observed at birth or in infancy
- Gender is about social and cultural differences in identity, expression and experience.
While they are related concepts, caution should be exercised when comparing counts for sex with those for gender. “The preferred Australian Government approach is to collect and use gender information. Information regarding sex would ordinarily not be required and should only be collected where there is a legitimate need for that information and it is consistent with Australian Privacy Principle 3.” (AGD 2015) |
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Collection methods: | This Data Element may be used to collect either sex recorded at birth or sex reported at the time of collection. This information should be specified in the Data Set Specific Information in order to provide transparency about which type of data was collected. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard for sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation variables (ABS 2021) recommends that where data on sex is collected, the preferred question should relate to sex recorded at birth. Sex recorded at birth refers to what was determined by sex characteristics observed at birth or in infancy. This is an important indicator for statistical analysis in births and deaths, health statistics, calculating fertility rates and deriving counts for cis and trans populations. A data collection may instead collect data on a person's sex reported at the time of collection, rather than their sex recorded at birth. However, there are advantages of sex recorded at birth as the sex question and further data that can be derived when using sex recorded at birth as the sex question. Caution should be exercised when comparing counts for sex of a person recorded at birth and the sex of a person reported at the time of collection, as a person's reported sex may change over the course of their lifetime. Also, as the terms sex and gender are often used interchangeably, a respondent might provide a gender response to a sex question. Standard questionsSex recorded at birthThe ABS recommends the following standard question structure: What was [your/Person's name/their] sex recorded at birth? Please [tick/mark/select] one box.
[ ] Male [ ] Female [ ] Another term (please specify)
Mandatory elements The following elements must be included: - The words "sex recorded at birth" in the question to clearly articulate the concept being collected
- Label the response options "Male", "Female", and "Another term (please specify)"
- A write-in facility is available when the "Another term (please specify)" response option is selected
- Only one response is permitted
- If this question is interviewer administered, the question must always be asked as written and no assumptions made by the interviewer.
Recommended elements The following elements are recommended: - Use inclusive language (e.g. "they" or "their" rather than "he/she" or "his/her")
- If both sex and gender questions are included, ask the sex question first and note that a separate question on gender is also asked
- If both sex and gender questions are included, ask both on the same page if practical.
Sex reported at the time of collectionThe ABS recommends the following standard question structure: What is [your/Person's name/their] sex? Please [tick/mark/select] one box.
[ ] Male [ ] Female [ ] Another term (please specify)
Mandatory elements The following elements must be included: - The word "sex" in the question to clearly articulate the concept being collected
- Label the response options "Male", "Female", and "Another term (please specify)"
- A write-in facility is available when the "Another term (please specify)" response option is selected
- Only one response is permitted
- If this question is interviewer administered, the question must always be asked as written and no assumptions made by the interviewer.
Recommended elements The following elements are recommended for inclusion: - Use inclusive language (e.g. "they" or "their" rather than "he/she" or "his/her")
- If both sex and gender questions are included, ask the sex question first and note that a separate question on gender is also asked
- If both sex and gender questions are included, ask both on the same page if practical.
The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender recommend "departments and agencies should refrain from making assumptions about a person's sex and/or gender identity based on indicators such as their name, voice or appearance" (AGD 2015.) The inclusion of the write-in facility for "Another term" as a third response option recognises that there are a range of terms used to describe sex which is neither male nor female, and enhances data quality. Where the "Another term" code has been selected for sex, the data element Person—sex, text X[X(99)] may be used to capture any further (optional) specification of sex descriptors. |
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Comments: |
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Source and reference attributes |
Submitting organisation: | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare |
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Origin: | ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2021. Standard for sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation variables. Canberra: ABS, viewed 25 February 2021 https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standard-sex-gender-variations-sex-characteristics-and-sexual-orientation-variables/latest-release AGD (Attorney-General's Department) 2015. Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender, viewed 26 February 2021 https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/publications/australian-government-guidelines-recognition-sex-and-gender |
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Relational attributes |
Related metadata references: | |
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Implementation in Data Set Specifications: | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific primary health care NBEDS December 2023Indigenous, Superseded 27/04/2024 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 31/12/2023 DSS specific information: In the ATSISPHC NBEDS only aggregated data with CODE 1, 2 and 9 are provided to the AIHW. Data are provided to the AIHW twice: - for 'CODE 1 Male' or 'CODE 2 Female'
- for 'CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described'.
For data collection, recording practices may vary between funded organisations so that: - Either sex or gender may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’.
- Either ‘Sex recorded at birth’ or ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’. It is likely that ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ is most commonly collected.
‘CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described’ does not include 'Another term'.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific primary health care NBEDS June 2024Indigenous, Standard 27/04/2024 Implementation start date: 01/01/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 DSS specific information: In the ATSISPHC NBEDS only aggregated data with CODE 1, 2 and 9 are provided to the AIHW. Data are provided to the AIHW twice: - for 'CODE 1 Male' or 'CODE 2 Female'
- for 'CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described'.
For data collection, recording practices may vary between funded organisations so that: - Either sex or gender may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’.
- Either ‘Sex recorded at birth’ or ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’. It is likely that ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ is most commonly collected.
‘CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described’ does not include 'Another term'.
Admitted patient care NMDS 2022–23Health, Superseded 20/12/2022 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the APC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Admitted patient care NMDS 2023–24Health, Superseded 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the APC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Admitted patient care NMDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the APC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Aged care person clusterAged Care, Standard 30/06/2023 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be collected for at least one of the two elements, either sex or gender. Where both sex and gender are known, both should be collected. DSS specific information: This data element is used to collect a person's sex as recorded at birth. Where sex at birth is not available, Person—gender, code X only should be collected.
Community mental health care NMDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the Community mental health care NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Dementia NBPDSHealth, Standard 05/10/2022 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the Dementia NBPDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Emergency service care NBEDS 2022–23Health, Superseded 07/02/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the ESC NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Emergency service care NBEDS 2023–24Health, Superseded 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the ESC NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Emergency service care NBEDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the ESC NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Indigenous-specific primary health care NBEDS December 2022Indigenous, Superseded 18/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 31/12/2022 DSS specific information: In the ISPHC NBEDS, this data element is provided to the AIHW twice: - for CODE 1 or CODE 2
- for CODE 9.
In the ISPHC NBEDS only aggregated data are provided to the AIHW. While the term gender is used in the Health Data Portal (HDP) for data collection, recording practices may vary between funded organisations so that either sex or gender may be collected. Both variables are reported together as ‘sex’. Recording practices may vary between funded organisations so that either ‘Sex recorded at birth’ or ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ may be collected. Both variables are reported together as ‘sex’. It is likely that ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ is most commonly collected.
Indigenous-specific primary health care NBEDS June 2023Indigenous, Superseded 25/02/2024 Implementation start date: 01/01/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 DSS specific information: In the ISPHC NBEDS only aggregated data with CODE 1, 2 and 9 are provided to the AIHW. Data are provided to the AIHW twice: - for 'CODE 1 Male' or 'CODE 2 Female'
- for 'CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described'.
For data collection, recording practices may vary between funded organisations so that: - Either sex or gender may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’.
- Either ‘Sex recorded at birth’ or ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ may be collected, with both variables reported together as ‘sex’. It is likely that ‘Sex reported at the time of collection’ is most commonly collected.
‘CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described’ does not include 'Another term'.
National congenital anomalies NBEDS 2016–Health, Qualified 18/07/2024 Implementation start date: 01/01/2016 DSS specific information: This data element is recorded once for the baby with the congenital anomaly. In the case of multiple births, this data element should be recorded for each baby born with a congenital anomaly.
National mortality database DSS 1964-1967Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Recorded 11/08/2023 Implementation start date: 01/01/1964 Implementation end date: 31/12/1967 DSS specific information: In the National Mortality Database only the values CODE 1 'Male' and CODE 2 'Female' are used. Where sex is not stated, efforts are made to find other information provided by the Registry, which offers a strong indication of sex, such as the cause of death of the deceased. Failing this, sex is assigned during processing based on the last digit of the death registration number for that death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
National mortality database DSS 1968-1977Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Recorded 30/10/2023 Implementation start date: 01/01/1968 Implementation end date: 31/12/1977 DSS specific information: In the National Mortality Database only the values CODE 1 'Male' and CODE 2 'Female' are used. Where sex is not stated, efforts are made to find other information provided by the Registry, which offers a strong indication of sex, such as the cause of death of the deceased. Failing this, sex is assigned during processing based on the last digit of the death registration number for that death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
National mortality database DSS 1978Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Recorded 30/10/2023 Implementation start date: 01/01/1978 Implementation end date: 31/12/1978 DSS specific information: In the National Mortality Database only the values CODE 1 'Male' and CODE 2 'Female' are used. Where sex is not stated, efforts are made to find other information provided by the Registry, which offers a strong indication of sex, such as the cause of death of the deceased. Failing this, sex is assigned during processing based on the last digit of the death registration number for that death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
National mortality database DSS 1979Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Recorded 30/10/2023 Implementation start date: 01/01/1979 Implementation end date: 31/12/1979 DSS specific information: In the National Mortality Database only the values CODE 1 'Male' and CODE 2 'Female' are used. Where sex is not stated, efforts are made to find other information provided by the Registry, which offers a strong indication of sex, such as the cause of death of the deceased. Failing this, sex is assigned during processing based on the last digit of the death registration number for that death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
National Outcomes and Casemix Collection NMDS 2024-25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient emergency department care NMDS 2022–23Health, Superseded 07/02/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAPEDC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient emergency department care NMDS 2023–24Health, Superseded 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAPEDC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient emergency department care NMDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAPEDC NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient NBEDS 2022–23Health, Superseded 20/12/2022 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAP NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient NBEDS 2023–24Health, Superseded 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAP NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Non-admitted patient NBEDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the NAP NBEDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
Perinatal NMDS 2022–23Health, Superseded 09/12/2022 Implementation start date: 01/07/2022 Implementation end date: 30/06/2023 DSS specific information: This data element is recorded for the baby only. In the case of multiple births, this data element should be recorded for each baby born.
Perinatal NMDS 2023–24Health, Superseded 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2023 Implementation end date: 30/06/2024 DSS specific information: This data element is recorded for the baby only. In the case of multiple births, this data element should be recorded for each baby born.
Perinatal NMDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 DSS specific information: This data element is recorded for the baby only. In the case of multiple births, this data element should be recorded for each baby born.
Prison clinic contact NBEDS 2022Health, Standard 29/05/2024 DSS specific information: This data element corresponds to the following question of the Clinic form: 6a. What was your sex recorded at birth?
Prison dischargee NBEDS 2022Health, Standard 29/05/2024 DSS specific information: In the Prison dischargee data collection, Sex will be mapped to: Code 1 Male Code 2 Female Code 9 Unknown This data element corresponds to the following question of the Prison Dischargee Form: 9a. What was your sex recorded at birth?
Prison entrants NBEDS 2022Health, Standard 29/05/2024 DSS specific information: The codes for Sex will be mapped to: Code 1 Male Code 2 Female Code 9 Unknown This data element corresponds to the following questions of the Prison Entrants Form: 8a. What was your sex recorded at birth?
Residential mental health care NMDS 2024–25Health, Standard 06/12/2023 Implementation start date: 01/07/2024 Implementation end date: 30/06/2025 Conditional obligation: This data element is collected on a Conditional basis with the element Person—gender, code X. Data must be reported for at least one of the two elements, either Sex or Gender. Data may be reported for both elements. DSS specific information: In the Residential Mental Health Care NMDS a person’s sex is understood to be reported as at the time of data collection.
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Implementation in Indicators: |
Used as Numerator
Used as Denominator
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