The VCCC Alliance Health Equity Program undertook a project to understand how health service and cancer registry data on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are collected, particularly at VCCC Alliance member health services.

This data dictionary compiles data variables used in an Australian context, contributing to the meaningful collection of data for the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities that can affect the treatment and access to health services for this group. It is meant to be a guide and draws upon existing definitions and standards.

Where no data variables or standards exist, these will be clearly stated.

This dictionary collates the national standards recommended by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Standards for Statistics on Cultural and Language Diversity (SSCLD), 1999 in one document for easier reference. Only key information is summarised and not meant to be a comprehensive inclusion of all definitions and metadata. It is to be used as the basis for discussion to better understand and improve on the barriers and gaps in the collection of CALD data experienced by health services.