In any context, across business or the public sector, it’s understood that the quality and robustness of data directly impacts the effectiveness of data-driven decisions.
For the Australian government to make informed decisions that address the changing needs of its citizens, it needs a complete picture of the Australian people.
Nationwide initiatives such as the Australian Census are designed to reflect a snapshot of the full spectrum of Australian society, tracking identifiers of the population mix and indicators of how it has changed.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics continually considers the inclusion of different topics and recently added additional identifiers of the LGBTQI+ community to spot known needs, potential risks and improve potential data quality.
To fully grasp the significance of inclusive data collection, we must first consider the implications of how government uses citizen data to improve service delivery and make decisions with real-world consequences.
Governments rely on accurate and comprehensive data to understand the changing needs of their communities. These insights inform the allocation of resources, the delivery of citizen services, and the design of public policy and planning.
Data in critical outcome areas, such as health, employment and housing, has a direct correlation to government funding in public healthcare and social support services. For instance, NSW traditionally receives the most public housing funding due to its representation of high population density and demand for social housing.
If certain members of the community are underrepresented or excluded from data collection, their set of challenges and needs may be overlooked by decision-makers.
As the Australian government strives towards a data-first society by 2030, all agencies must consider implementing a holistic strategy that includes the diversity of experiences, successes, and challenges of the community.
Inclusive community engagement and representation builds strong, sustainable relationships between government and its citizens.
The Australian Census should include the entire demographics of the population such as race, income and gender identity. Vulnerable populations, based on factors such as age, at times require a variation of engagement strategies due to disparity in accessibility.
Recommendations from the 2018 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that greater visibility was needed for government to address the changing needs and evolving expectations of Australia’s ageing population.
By recognising and including diverse voices in conversations of national importance, government can better serve all members of the community and rebuild public trust. Additionally, government should help foster a culture of diversity within its agencies. In time, these changes will drive new decision-making processes that are more inclusive and transparent.
This inclusion can help shift social perspectives and create a more accepting environment as the lived experiences of diverse communities become more visible and validated.
According to a 2021 report by the ABS, around 3.2% of Australians aged 15 and over identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual. This was the first time data on sexual orientation was collected by the ABS to shed more insight into the diversity of Australia’s population. However, this figure only captures a small cohort of the broader LGBTQI+ community.
Existing research, understood by the ABS, shows that individuals who are transgender and gender diverse, and people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes, lower access to secure housing, and are at an increased risk of poverty, discrimination and violence.
Analysis of Census data on the geographic location of these population groups would offer decision-makers actionable insights to inform service delivery and the allocation of resources based on the communities’ need.
Australian organisations are global leaders when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in the workplace and ASX-listed companies have programs in place to ensure strategic inclusion.
When we look to the corporate world, it relies heavily on the notion that their datasets that are of quality and are trustworthy. Powering various systems with incorrect, incomplete or outdated data produce skewed or irrelevant analytics that ultimately effect the decision-making process.
By embracing diverse perspectives, experiences, and striving to continue to identify variations within the population, government can recognise the story of how Australia is changing. Census data tells us about the economic, social and cultural make-up of the country which will help build a stronger system of government programs, focus, and support.
Gabriel Massili is chief customer officer at Granicus
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