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Data Element Detail

Person-indigenous status
Identifying and Definitional Attributes
QH 040290 v4
Data Element
Data Element
Current
20-Oct-2008		Superseded
14-Aug-2016
Standard
20-Oct-2008
14-Aug-2016
Whether a client identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.
Clinical and administrative purposes and individual identification.
Indigenous status
Representational Attributes
Numeric
Code
N
1
1
Permissible Values

Permissible_values

CodeDescription
1Aboriginal but not Torres Strait Islander origin
2Torres Strait Islander but not Aboriginal origin
3Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin
4Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander origin
Supplementary Values

Supplemenary_values

CodeDescription
9Not stated/unknown
Collection and Usage Attributes
Indigenous status data should be sourced from or verified against the data held in the Corporate Reference Data System (CRDS) maintained by the Health Statistics Branch (HSB).

The classification for Indigenous status has a hierarchical structure comprising two levels. There are four categories at the detailed level of the classification which are grouped into two categories at the broad level. There is one supplementary category for 'not stated' responses. The classification is as follows:

Indigenous:
- Aboriginal but not Torres Strait Islander origin.
- Torres Strait Islander but not Aboriginal origin.
- Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

Non-indigenous:
- Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander origin.
Not stated/ inadequately described:

This category is not to be available as a valid answer to the questions but is intended for use:
- Primarily when importing data from other data collections that do not contain mappable data.
- Where an answer was refused.
- Where the question was not able to be asked prior to completion of assistance because the client was unable to communicate or a person who knows the client was not available.

Although provision is made for recording unknown Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin every effort should be made to determine and record the client's indigenous status.
Should not be blank
The standard question for Indigenous Status is as follows:
[Are you] [Is the client] [Is (name)] of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
(For clients of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, mark both 'Yes' boxes.)
No...................................................
Yes, Aboriginal.............................
Yes, Torres Strait Islander............
This question is recommended for self-enumerated or interview-based collections.

It can also be used in circumstances where a close relative, friend, or another member of the household is answering on behalf of the client. Where the client is unable to provide this information (eg. children), their carer or next of kin must be asked if the client is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin. In some cases this information can not be obtained at the time of registration (eg. for unconscious clients) record Code 9 - UNKNOWN in this field.

When someone is not present, the person answering for them should be in a position to do so, ie. this person must know well the client about whom the question is being asked and feel confident to provide accurate information about them.

However, it is strongly recommended that this question be asked directly wherever possible. This question must always be asked regardless of data collectors' perceptions based on appearance or other factors. The Indigenous status question allows for more than one response. The procedure for coding multiple responses is as follows:
- If the respondent marks 'No' and either 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander', then the response should be coded to either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander as indicated (ie. disregard the 'No' response).
- If the respondent marks both the 'Aboriginal' and 'Torres Strait Islander' boxes, then their response should be coded to 'Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin'.
- If the respondent marks all three boxes ('No', 'Aboriginal' and 'Torres Strait Islander'), then the response should be coded to 'Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin' (ie. disregard the 'No' response).

This approach may be problematical in some data collections, for example when data are collected by interview or using screen based data capture systems. An additional response category 'Yes', both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander may be included if this better suits the data collection practices of the facility concerned.

Data Collections which include this data element: Mental Health Activity Data Collection (MHADC), Community Mental Health Collection (CMHC).
Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples occupy a unique place in Australian society and culture. In the current climate of reconciliation, accurate and consistent statistics about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are needed in order to plan, promote and deliver essential services, to monitor changes in wellbeing and to account for government expenditure in this area. The purpose of this data element is to provide information about people who identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin. The following definition, commonly known as 'The Commonwealth definition', was given in a High Court judgement in the case of Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 46 ALR 625. 'An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she lives'. There are three components to the Commonwealth definition: - descent; - self-identification; and - community acceptance. In practice, it is not feasible to collect information on the community acceptance part of this definition in general purpose statistical and administrative collections and therefore standard questions on Indigenous status relate to descent and self identification only. This metadata item is based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) standard for Indigenous status. For detailed advice on its use and application please refer to the ABS website as indicated in the Reference documents.
 
Relational Attributes
Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

  • 1 - 5
ViewRelationshipMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifier & VersionApproval Status
SupersedesData ElementData ElementIndigenous statusQH 040290 Version 3Superseded
Has been superseded byData ElementData ElementPerson-indigenous statusQH 040290 Version 5Superseded
Is mappable fromData ElementData ElementPerson-indigenous status (registration, HBCIS)QH 041940 Version 2Superseded
Is mappable fromData ElementData ElementPerson-indigenous status (registration, HBCIS)QH 041940 Version 1Superseded
Relates toData ElementData ElementDeceased's indigenous statusQH 040719 Version 1Retired
Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

  • 1 - 14
ViewMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifer & VersionObligationApproval StatusEffective FromEffective To
Information AssetData CollectionElective Surgery Data Collection (ESDC)QH 020110 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Oct-200814-Aug-2016
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Census Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020304 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201730-Jun-2018
Information AssetData CollectionEmergency Data Collection (EDC)QH 020159 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Oct-200814-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionGastrointestinal Endoscopy Data Collection (GIEDC)-RemovalsQH 020277 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201514-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionGastrointestinal Endoscopy Data Collection (GIEDC)-WaitingQH 020276 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201514-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Cancer Registry (QCR) Data CollectionQH 020002 Version 1Superseded14-Oct-200814-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Health Non-Admitted Patient Data Collection (QHNAPDC)QH 020262 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201414-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection (QHAPDC)QH 020001 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Oct-200814-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Minimum Dataset for Needle and Syringe Programs (QMDS-NSP)QH 020273 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Nov-200914-Aug-2016
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementQueensland Needle and Syringe programs (QNSP) Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2016-2017QH 020287 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201614-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC)QH 020003 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Oct-200814-Aug-2016
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementQueensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Mother Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2016-2017QH 020321 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201614-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionRadiation Therapy Data Collection (RTDC)QH 020274 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201514-Aug-2016
Information AssetData CollectionSpecialist Outpatient Data Collection (SODC)QH 020606 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201514-Aug-2016
Source and Reference Attributes
Queensland Health
Aboriginal/Torres strait islander; Aboriginality; Torres Strait Islander;