• Kristy Crooks, Sandra Carlson, and Craig Dalton.
• Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; kristy.crooks@health.nsw.gov.au.
• Public Health Res Pract. 2019 Dec 4; 29 (4).

AbstractThe Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard Indigenous Question (SIQ) uses a question about 'origin' to collect data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A 2014 review found strong support among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders for a question focusing on cultural identity, rather than origin. However the ABS retained the origin question to preserve data continuity. In contrast, an Australian influenza-like illness surveillance system, FluTracking, has included the question: "Do you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?" for the past 8 years. Brief consultations found that Aboriginal health professionals and academics preferred the 'identify' question as a more accurate descriptor of social realities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities. Statistical collections could adapt to improve the quality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data, and seek to reflect reality, not define it.

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