Microdata files were first released for the 1981 Census, containing individual, family, and household information with a hierarchical structure for a 1 percent sample sample of households. Starting from the 1991 Census, Household Sample File (HSF) is produced and available for public use, becoming a core of Australian Census microdata. Australian Census microdata are usually accessible on the following sites.
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Australian Bureau of Statistics | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's official statistical organization. Click the link to see its catalog (including abstract, media type, etc.) for Census Products: Census Household Sample File for 1996 to present that is a microdata file. |
| Social Science Data Archive (ASSDA) - Australian National University | Set up in 1981 with a brief to collect and preserve computer-readable data relating to social, political and economic affairs and to make the data available for further analysis. SSDA charges include a standard service fee of $60 for each request plus other possible fees based on the type of request. Historic Census Data includes Sample Files from 1976 forward. |
