Australian Migration Research Data on CD-ROM

The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Philip Ruddock, today launched a CD-ROM of data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia at Parliament House.

The CD-ROM contains data from all three Waves of the first Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA).

"This CD takes my Department's research into a new dimension in its publication of research data and is just the beginning of our pursuit of new ways to make our data available to the widest audience in the most accessible ways," Mr Ruddock said.

"The LSIA is unique in that it is the first comprehensive longitudinal survey of immigrants ever to be undertaken in Australia. The data collected provides research opportunities covering immigrants' settlement experiences at the national, state and territory levels.

"The benefit is not confined to government agencies but also extends to private sector and community groups and provides valuable and reliable data on which to base analysis and assessment of immigration and settlement policies, programs and services.

The fact that 72% of the 5,000 participants stayed with the survey from beginning to end shows the importance they placed on telling their story," Mr Ruddock said.

The Minister thanked those who participated in the LSIA for their time and effort and their contribution to the well-being of future immigrants.

"The possibilities for use of LSIA data to bring about benefits to the Australian community is an exciting prospect and in producing this CD we wanted to make the LSIA data available in a way that is user-friendly so that we can all benefit from whatever study or project it may be used for," Mr Ruddock said.

The LSIA data has already been used by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as well as other agencies to review and refine policies and programs.

"I believe the CD will live up to the high hopes we have for it as a research tool," Mr Ruddock said.

Copies of the CD-ROM are available for purchase through Ausinfo at www.ausinfo.gov.au.

See also www.australia.org.nz

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