How reliable are Indigenous population projections?

How reliable are Indigenous population projections?

Tom Wilson
Andrew Taylor

Demography and Growth Planning, Northern Institute

Abstract
Projections of Australia’s Indigenous population are used in a wide range of planning, service provision, policy development, and research activities. But apart from a very general sense that Indigenous population data are imprecise, little is known about the reliability of these projections. This paper evaluates several past sets of ABS Indigenous population projections. It addresses the question ‘How well did past ABS Indigenous projections predict the Indigenous Estimated Resident Populations (ERPs) five years later?’ Past ABS projections of the Indigenous population are assessed against subsequent ERPs using Percentage Discrepancy measures. Both total and age-specific populations are evaluated. The results show that ABS Indigenous projections have generally not predicted the next census year’s ERP very well, with the exception of the Northern Territory. Users should be prepared for the large levels of discrepancy revealed in this study for past projections to be repeated with the most recent set of Indigenous projections. 

See the full research brief here

Demography North

New ways for old ceremonies: keeping country and kin alive in the digital age (ARC Project)

New ways for old ceremonies: keeping country and kin alive in the digital age (ARC Project)

Dr Linda Ford 

Senior Research Fellow

Northern Institute
Charles Darwin University

AIMS 
This aim of this research is to develop and implement suitable Indigenous frameworks for the preservation, interpretation and dissemination of recordings of ceremonial performances in the Wagait/Daly region of the
Northern Territory of Australia. The focus of the research is a body of recordings documented by early anthropologists and missionaries of
the final mortuary ceremonies performed. Dr Ford aim is to preserve and extend the power of this ceremony for the benefit of future generations of Indigenous people and Australia.

BACKGROUND/SIGNIFICANCE
Ceremonial performance is a key process for integrating Indigenous knowledge from many different
domains, and a socially powerful site of exchange, transmission and transformation of relationship to
country and kin. This research aims to extend the power of this ceremony from the present recordings, and
to retrace the first written documented records of anthropologists and Jesuit missionaries from 1891 – 1899
and onward.

ABOUT DR FORD
Dr Linda Ford is Aboriginal and identifies as Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu, from Kurrindju, on the Finniss River, in the Northern Territory and is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Northern Institute at CDU, with whom she has a long association. Her knowledge, expertise and research in working with Indigenous groups is clearly invaluable to the Northern Institute. Dr Ford graduated with her PhD (Education), 2006 from Deakin University. 
Read Dr Ford’s full profile HERE

When           Thursday 29 September 2016              

                     2.30pm – 4.00pm

                     Afternoon tea provided

Where          Northern Institute, Yellow Building 1, Level 2, Room 48 (Savanna Room)(MAP)

          

RSVP             by Wednesday 28 September via Outlook or thenortherninstitute@cdu.edu.au

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