Data communication - Emerging international trends and practices of the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Results of a survey recently conducted by Statistics Canada suggest that many National Statistical Offices (NSOs) are in different stages of progress in migrating from a paper-based publishing regime to a web-based publishing regime. The common theme and challenges faced by NSOs today are focused on how to make the World Wide Web an effective medium for the on-line communication of statistics. Like many other NSOs, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is positioning itself to use the internet as the principal channel for data communication. There are a number of strategies in place to fulfil the ABS goal of efficient and effective web publishing. These strategies are: - improving communication of statistics to facilitate user discovery of information, assessment of its fitness-for-purpose and understanding of the statistical messages in the data; - broadcasting and proactive dissemination of information such as through Real Simple Syndication and Email Notification; - improving self help; - writing once and publishing many times to improve the efficiency and consistency of released information; and - improving overall usability and accessibility of the web site. In this paper, the strategies and techniques used by the ABS to improve statistical communication are discussed.