View - LIME Network

The occupancy standard determines overcrowding by comparing the number ofbedrooms with the number and characteristics of people in a dwelling. However, thenumbers of bathrooms and toilets, and the size of kitchens, bedrooms and otherliving spaces may be as important as, or more important than, the number ofbedrooms, particularly in larger households.Box 10.3.2 Housing occupancy standard used by ABSThere is no single standard measure for housing overcrowding. The ABS uses astandard a which is sensitive to both household size and composition. Where thisstandard cannot be met, households are considered to be overcrowded.The following criteria were used to assess bedroom requirements:• there should be no more than two persons per bedroom• a household of one unattached individual may reasonably occupy a bed-sit (that is,have no bedroom)• couples and parents should have a separate bedroom• children less than five years of age of different sexes may reasonably share abedroom• children five years of age or over of the opposite sex should not share a bedroom• children less than 18 years of age and of the same sex may reasonably share abedroom• single household members aged 18 years or over should have a separate bedroom.a Based on the Canadian National Occupancy Standard for housing appropriateness.Source: ABS (2004).The quality and condition of housing also influence health outcomes. If a house hassufficient working taps, tubs, showers, toilets, insect screens and protection from theweather it will be much better able to prevent the disease transmission that canoccur in crowded households.Overcrowding in housing is reported here using data from the ABS NationalAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002 (NATSISS), the ABSNational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2004-05 (NATSIHS).Data on the rates of overcrowding experienced by non-Indigenous people were notavailable for this Report.The NATSISS only reported data for those aged 15 years and older, whereas theNATSIHS collected data for children as well. Consequently, data presented as atime series between 2002 and 2004-05 cover only people aged 15 years and over,whereas data presented for 2004-05 alone, cover all age groups.10.24 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007