The development of Australian internal migration database

Salahudin S. Muhidin, University of Queensland
Dominic Brown, University of Queensland
Martin Bell, University of Queensland

The study attempts to discuss the development of a time series of Australian Internal Migration (AIM) Database that covers five sequential intercensal periods 1976-1981 until 1996-2001. The database has been constructed to support the study on “Understanding the structure and dynamic of interregional migration in Australia.” Information on migration is heavily derived from the 1981-2001 Censuses of Population and Housing. The great value of this database lies in two factors: (1) the design of geographical zones that devise a system of 69 temporally consistent regions (TSDs) across censuses, and (2) the methods used to decompose inter-regional flows (transition) that differentiate age, period, birth cohort, and sex. It provides a unique resource to be utilized in testing ground for models and theories of migration. The utility of the database is illustrated by examining selected features of Australian inter-regional migration. In the future, the database is planned to be accessed on-line for the academic sectors