Policy Context

The number of First Nations children and young people is based on the Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population are produced by the ABS following each Census (every five years).

• Preliminary estimates are released in the year following the Census.

• Final estimates are released two years following the Census.

Estimates and Projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2011 to 2031 provide estimates and projections for years in between Censuses and are derived using assumptions about future fertility, paternity, life expectancy, and migration.