The 2014 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey is an anachronism

The Process

In 2003, in preparation for a paper on Indigenous data disaggregation, I asked the ABS how many Indigenous people were employed in the Indigenous statistics area; the answer was none. In 2013, at the consultation session, I asked how many Indigenous people were employed in the team working on NATSISS; again the answer was none. And it shows.

From an Indigenous stakeholder point of view, the institutional understanding of Aboriginal and Torres interests, perspectives and life experiences still appear very limited. I acknowledge the ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Round Table and the consultations currently taking place. But consultation is not an active word and the power to accept or reject consultative advice always remains with the consulter. In 2013 consultation is no longer enough.

Increasing NATSISS Potential

The politics of Indigenous participation in the NATSISS need to go beyond being survey respondents. As it stands Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, despite roundtables and consultation, remain largely marginalised from the design, production and use of the NATSISS data.

The result is, that the 2014 NATSISS, as currently configured, is an underachiever. Fortunately, this is remediable and the survey's potential to meet a higher benchmark is strong.

The key is to put the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander into the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey. In 1994 there were very few qualified Indigenous people with appropriate expertise. The picture is very different in 2013. More than 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now hold PhDs across a range of topics, but especially in social sciences, health and education, ICTs, governance, wellbeing and the number is growing exponentially. This coterie of scholars is at present an untapped resource for design and development. There is also a wealth of Indigenous expertise in community organisations, business operators and specialists that is being wasted in out-dated 'consultation' practices.

In short, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander need to be intimately involved in all aspects of planning, developing, designing, implementing and analysis of NATSISS; in terms of working directly on the survey within the ABS and in guiding its design, development, implementation and interpretation of results. Let's have a NATSISS for all of us, not an anachronism.

In June 2013 I sent a letter outlining my concerns and suggestions to the Chief Statistician, Dr Brian Pink. I have yet to receive acknowledgement or a reply.