Coordination
As well as providing data services, OESR shares its experience and skills in information management and statistics by providing coordination services to government agencies.
Statistical Coordination
The Queensland Government coordinates all whole-of-government statistical issues through OESR as its central statistical agency. These statistical coordination activities are completed under the direction of the Government Statistician.
Statistical coordination provides an ongoing framework and mechanism for OESR to identify and review the statistical requirements of the Queensland Government, and advise the Australian Bureau of Statistics on statistical issues that inform the national statistical work program. Statistical coordination activities support the Queensland Government Statistician on the Australian Statistical Advisory Council and the Queensland Statistical Table. OESR also arranges centralised data purchasing across the Queensland Government to avoid duplication.
Research
OESR also engages in a range of research collaborations with various local universities, research institutions and in conjunction with other Queensland Government agencies. OESR manages these research projects and coordinates the input from participating Queensland Government agencies. It is the first point of contact for the researchers and provides advice and expertise on technical questions and research related issues.
The research projects cover economic, socio-economic, spatial and statistical topics with the ultimate aim to improve the evidence base for informed policy decision making and service delivery for Queensland Government.
Networks
A range of Queensland based networks are coordinated and promoted by OESR with a focus on managing information, including statistical, economic and spatial. These networks comprise representatives from Queensland Government agencies, local government authorities and regional bodies, and the Commonwealth Government. The objective of these networks is to encourage member agencies to share knowledge and information on information management issues, including data requirements and caveats, information gaps, current and future projects, and research proposals and opportunities.
Statistical networks also provide a forum to coordinate centralised responses to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Current networks include metadata networks, Statistical Liaison Officer networks (head-office and regional), the Crime Statistics network and the Indigenous Statistics network.
A range of networks representing the spatial industry are also coordinated through the Queensland Spatial Information Office (QSIO) in OESR. These include the State Digital Road Network User Group and the Queensland Spatial Information Strategy (QSIS) Interoperability Special Interest Group.
More information can be found out about these networks through Data Smart.
Training
OESR provides basic statistical training for the public sector. Training covers an appreciation of official statistics and how to find them, and a practical component involving spreadsheet skills for collecting, checking and preparing data for further analysis. Participants can gain an understanding of census and survey data, and can develop hands-on skills in summary statistics and constructing meaningful statistical reports.
Training is also offered by OESR in the surveys field covering interpretation of sample surveys and the survey process. In addition, according to demand, brief sessions are available on sample size, presenting data and other advanced statistical techniques such as regression.
Information on training opportunities and online registration can be accessed via Data Smart.
Last reviewed: Apr 14, 2008, Last modified: Oct 12, 2007
