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Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) for Researchers

What are CURFs

Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) contain data from ABS surveys in the form of unit records, and contain the most detailed statistical information available from the ABS. Researchers can run statistical reports on the data using SAS or SPSS software. CURFs have been confidentialised by removing name and address information, by controlling the amount of detail and by changing a small number of values.

Who can use CURFs?

Any current staff member or student of the University of Newcastle is eligible to use CURFs. In late 1998 an agreement between the the ABS and the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee (AV-CC) was signed allowing Australian universities to apply for access to Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs). The CURF agreement has been a great success in terms of supporting research in Australian universities with thirty two of Australia's thirty eight universities participating in the program. Details of the agreement are available on the ABS web site.

Accessing CURFs

There are three different ways to access the CURFs; CD-ROM, Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) and the ABS Site Data Laboratory (ABSDL), and three different user levels; Basic, Expanded and Specialist.

To gain authorisation to use CURFs the following procedure should be followed

Identify the CURF/s that you wish to use from the list of available CURFs on the ABS web site.

Download and complete the application form from the ABS web site.

Send the completed form to CURF Contact Officer Katie Battiston in the Auchmuty Library (Room L411b)

Now what?

The form will be signed by the Contact Officer and forwarded to the ABS for assessment and approval (the approval process generally takes about 2 weeks)

Once authorisation is given you and the Contact Officer will be notified of approval by the ABS

Depending on the form of access you require:

CD-ROM: A copy of the CURF CD-ROM will be made by the Contact Officer and checked out on your library record for a 12 month period. You can then opt to pick the CURF up from the Contact Officer in the Auchmuty Library or have the CURF sent via internal mail only
RADL: You will be notified by the ABS and given a username and password to access the Remote Data Lab
ABSDL: You will need to contact the ABS to arrange access

Using CURFs

Each year the ABS / AVCC agreement must be renewed by Universities. Part of this process relies upon CURF users providing a brief report to the Contact Officer on how the CURFs have been used e.g. any publications developed from use of the data, what projects they are being used in etc. The Contact Officer will add the reports to the renewal application and forward to the ABS. The University of Newcastle's annual renewal process occurs in October. It is a condition of use that a brief report is supplied for each CURF - even if it is to say that the CURF has not been used in the 12 month period.

Once you have finished using a CURF it should be returned to the Contact Officer and it will then be removed from your Library record.

I've been authorised to use a CURF … now what?

If you're not sure how to use CURFs once you have been authorised you can either try the ABS web site. for information or you can contact Katie Battiston on 492 12018 or Katie.Battiston@newcastle.edu.au for assistance.

More information

Katie Battiston
Library Services
492 12018 or Katie.Battiston@newcastle.edu.au

Australian Bureau of Statistics Web Site - CURFs