Library guides: Human services and social work: Statistics and data

Statistics and data

Statistics sources for human services and social work

These organisations are the key providers of statistics for the health profession in Australia and internationally

Australian sources

ABS Statistics
The statistics section of the Australian Bureau of Statistics web site gives you access to the full range of the Bureau's statistical and reference information including census data from 1996 onwards.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information. The Institute produces authoritative publications about key health and welfare issues in Australia.
Australian Data Archive
The Australian Data Archive (ADA) provides a national service for the collection and preservation of digital research data and to make these data available for secondary analysis by academic researchers and other users.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is an innovative Internet resource that aims to inform practice and policy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by making research and other knowledge readily accessible.
Queensland Government Statistics
Covers demographic, economic and social data about Queensland.
Australian Institute of Criminology
National research centre on crime and justice. Publish a range of crime and justice statistics
Australian Government - Australian Institute of Family Studies
Covers data on broad trends in Australian families.
Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey publications
Reports and publications using the data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey.
Australian Government - Department of Home Affairs
Statistics on citizenship, visas and migration for Australia. Access statistics through the site menu.

International sources

World Health Organisation
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. WHO is an excellent source of international and comparative statistics.
World Bank Open Data
Includes World Bank Development Indicators: 900 indicators organised in six sections: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. Click Data Catalog > Databank.

Find statistics

Statistics are often freely available on the web. When trying to find statistical information, ask yourself:

Are statistics likely to have been collected on this topic?
If so, which organisation would collect/publish these type of statistics?

Publishers include:

State government;
Federal government;
International governments;
International agencies;
Private entities; and
Membership organisations.

Statistics may also be reported in newspaper, magazine and journal articles.

Be prepared for the possibility that:

Statistics may not exist for the variables you require;
The most recent statistics available may be several years old; and
Some statistics are not freely available.