Statistical Clearing House

Annual Census of Residential Aged Care Services, Financial Year 2001/2002

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• Overview
• Quality Framework
• A. General Information
• B. User Requirements, Survey Objectives and Budget
• C. Alternative Sources of Data
• D. Data Outputs
• E. Questionnaire Design and Data Collection
• F. Respondent Load *** You are here ***
• F1 Respondent load
  
• F2 Reduction in respondent load
  
• F3 Confidentiality
• G. Population / Frame
• H. Sample Design
• I. Estimation and Analysis
• J. Post Survey Information

F. Respondent Load

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F1 Respondent load

On average, how long will a respondent be expected to spend in completing each questionnaire? How has this estimate been derived? Will the time taken by respondents to complete the survey be recorded? (F1)
Note. Mail-based surveys should include a 'time taken to complete questionnaire' question. For telephone interviews this 'time taken' information should be recorded.
A 'time taken to complete questionnaire' question has been included in the questionnaire and responses will be analysed.

For the 94% of respondents who responded in writing to last year’s census, the median total time taken to compile data and complete the questionnaire was one hour.

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F2 Reduction in respondent load

What steps have been taken to reduce the burden on small businesses, eg use of a reduced questionnaire? (F2)

The questionnaire seeks short answers that will collate the necessary information required for the Report on the operation of the Aged Care Act 1997.

The time band within which responses can be sought is tightly constrained, i.e. between the completion of end-of year accounts in July and preparation of the report in September. Within this constraint, the time made available to complete the questionnaire is as long as possible.

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F3 Confidentiality

What commitments have been made to preserve the confidentiality of respondents? How will these be implemented? (F3)
The contractor will be bound by the Privacy Act 1988, the Information Privacy Principles and the Aged Care Act 1997. If the contractor is a member of the Market Research Society of Australia it is bound by its Code of Professional Behaviour. The contractor must undertake not to store respondent details permanently anywhere or copy or use the information for any purpose other than the contracted purpose. The contractor will be required ensure the confidentiality of respondent details at all times.

At the completion of the project the contractor will return to the Commonwealth or destroy all documentation and records that identify census participants and will be required to sign a statutory declaration to this effect.

Unit record data will not be released. Data from individual approved providers is protected under Section 86-2 of the Aged Care Act 1997.

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