A team from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has visited Tennant Creek and Barkly remote communities as part of the nationwide survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Former local Adrian Dodson-Shaw is part of the team and is a community advisor.

He and his colleagues have visited randomised households in town and communities and asked residents if they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Residents are asked if they would like to take part in the survey, then one adult and one child (aged between 5 and 18 years) are interviewed and given the option to also participate in a blood and urine collection.

Mr Dodson-Shaw said the ABS team has received great feedback from the Indigenous community, and the participant uptake was excellent.

“Residents have been really forthcoming to participate in the survey,” he said.

The first nationwide survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was in 1994 and was in response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

The survey covers topics such health, culture, education and employment, with results used to inform important decisions about the services and programs to support Indigenous Australians.

The results from this survey are expected to be released late next year. 

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 24 November 2023.