25 years at the AIHW—key achievements

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Director	Achievements	Board Chair The Institute is governed by a 15-member board.
Dr Leonard Smith (Oct 1987 – Dec 1992)	1987 The Australian Institute of Health (AIH) is established as a statutory authority on 1 July. It was described at the time as an 'independent health research and statistics agency within the Commonwealth Community Services and Health portfolio'. 1988 The first Australia's health biennial report is produced. 1989–90 National agreement is reached on information to be collected on institutional health care. 1991–92 The Institute's role and functions expand to include welfare-related information and statistics, with its name changing to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The Institute is formally selected as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. The first Data Catalogue is produced.	Emeritus Professor Peter H Karmel, AC, CBE (Jul 1988 – Jun 1992)
1992–93 The National Health Information Agreement and National Welfare Data Agreement are signed. The first National Health Data Dictionary is published.	Professor Fiona J Stanley, AC (Jul 1992 – Jun 1995)
Mr Tim Skinner (Feb 1993 – Sep 1993)	1993 The first Australia's welfare biennial report is produced. 1993–94 Development of the Disability Services Minimum Data Set begins. The Institute hosts an international workshop on the classification of disability. The National Health Labour Force Collection and National Hospital Morbidity Database are established.
Professor Bruce Armstrong (Jan 1994 – Jan 1996)	1994–95 The Institute holds a National Health Information Forum to help identify priorities for the next 5–10 years. The Disability Services Minimum Data Set is established and the first Australian health indicators report published.	Professor Janice Reid, AM (Jul 1995 – Jun 2001)
Dr Richard Madden (Jan 1996 – Jan 2006)	1996–97 The National Community Services Information Agreement is endorsed and signed by the Commonwealth and the states and territories. The first MoU between the AIHW and the Department of Health and Family Services is signed. The first joint AIHW–Australian Bureau of Statistics report on The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is released. The AIHW's first website is launched. The Institute contributes strongly to national data development in the areas of housing assistance (both long-term and short-term), disability services and child protection. 1997–98 Institute policies on privacy and data security are reviewed. The first National Community Services Data Dictionary is produced and development begins on the National Minimum Data Set for Community and Mental Health Care. 1998–99 The National Public Health Information Development Plan is produced. The Institute receives an award for excellence in data management from the Australian Branch of the Data Management Association for the National Health Information Knowledgebase (forerunner of today's Metadata Online Registry—METeOR). The first national data collection on community housing is completed and the first collection of performance data for Indigenous community-managed housing begins. Important data development work in child and youth health, mental health and palliative care is completed. The Institute is invited to be the Australian clearinghouse for adoptions data.
1999–00 The first national Burden of Disease and Injury study and the first national report on the health status of young Australians (aged 12–24), Australia's Young People: Their Health and Wellbeing 1999, are published. The National Housing Data and National Indigenous Housing Information Agreements are signed. Several policies and guidelines to ensure the secure handling of data holdings in accord with proposed changes to the Privacy Act are introduced. 2000–01 An MoU with the Department of Family and Community Services (now FaHCSIA) is signed. The AIHW Act is amended in June 2001 to expand the scope of the Ethics Committee to cover welfare functions. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey is developed. The first National Housing Assistance Data Dictionary is produced.
2001–02 The Institute plays a major role in the implementation of the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Australia. It also contributes to the development and implementation in Australia of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's International Classification for Health Accounts. The AIHW Act is amended to allow for a single AIHW Health and Welfare Ethics Committee rather than the previous two committees. 2002–03 The Institute hosts the 2002 meeting of Heads of WHO Collaborating Centres for the Family of International Classifications. An MoU with the Department of Veterans' Affairs is signed. The first comprehensive report on diabetes, Diabetes Australian Facts 2002, is produced. 2003–04 The Charter of Corporate Governance is developed. The Institute undertakes substantial development work in the management of metadata to support national data standards in health, community services and housing assistance.	Dr Sandra Hacker, AO (Aug 2001 – Jun 2004)
2004–05 Building on the development work of the previous year, the Institute releases its new Metadata Online Registry (METeOR). Health and Ageing Minister Tony Abbott and the Family and Community Services Minister Senator Kay Patterson launch two significant publications, the 2004 National Drugs Survey Household Survey report and A Picture of Australia's Children, respectively.	The Hon. Peter Collins, AM, QC (Aug 2004 - Jul 2011)
Dr Penny Allbon (Feb 2006 – Dec 2010)	2006–07 A relationship with the Canadian Institute for Health Information is established. A database of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-subsidised prescription pharmaceuticals dispensed to people with respiratory diseases is set up. The Institute is commissioned to do all the detailed analysis for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008–09 The Institute plays a key role in the development of indicators for the Intergovernmental Agreements relating to health care, housing and homelessness, disability, and Indigenous reform. The Reconciliation Action Plan is launched 2009–10 There is a large increase in staff numbers at the AIHW to support the development and reporting of data for the national performance indicators required by the Council of Australian Governments reform process, and for the development of a new Specialist Homelessness Services Collection to replace the old Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) collection. The online Closing the Gap Clearinghouse is launched, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Mr David Kalisch (Dec 2010 – present)	2010–11 The electronic Validata® data validation tool, which significantly enhances and speeds production of timely and quality data, is developed. Creative Commons BY licensing for publications and the website is implemented. A new online AIHW Indigenous Observatory and the MyHospitals website are launched.
2011–12 The new Specialist Homelessness Services data collection is launched. Development of an indicatorbased reporting framework for early childhood development begins. The Institute is the first agency to be accredited as an Integrating Authority.	The Hon. Dr Andrew Refshauge, MB, BS, FAICD (Jul 2011 – present)

Director

Achievements

Board Chair

The Institute is governed by a 15-member board.

Dr Leonard Smith

(Oct 1987 – Dec 1992)

1987

The Australian Institute of Health (AIH) is established as a statutory authority on 1 July. It was described at the time as an 'independent health research and statistics agency within the Commonwealth Community Services and Health portfolio'.

1988

The first Australia's health biennial report is produced.

1989–90

National agreement is reached on information to be collected on institutional health care.

1991–92

The Institute's role and functions expand to include welfare-related information and statistics, with its name changing to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The Institute is formally selected as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. The first Data Catalogue is produced.

Emeritus Professor Peter H Karmel,
AC, CBE

(Jul 1988 – Jun 1992)

1992–93

The National Health Information Agreement and National Welfare Data Agreement are signed. The first National Health Data Dictionary is published.

Professor Fiona J Stanley, AC

(Jul 1992 – Jun 1995)

Mr Tim Skinner

(Feb 1993 –
Sep 1993)

1993

The first Australia's welfare biennial report is produced.

1993–94

Development of the Disability Services Minimum Data Set begins. The Institute hosts an international workshop on the classification of disability. The National Health Labour Force Collection and National Hospital Morbidity Database are established.

Professor Bruce Armstrong

(Jan 1994 – Jan 1996)

1994–95

The Institute holds a National Health Information Forum to help identify priorities for the next 5–10 years. The Disability Services Minimum Data Set is established and the first Australian health indicators report published.

Professor Janice Reid, AM

(Jul 1995 – Jun 2001)

Dr Richard Madden

(Jan 1996 – Jan 2006)

1996–97

The National Community Services Information Agreement is endorsed and signed by the Commonwealth and the states and territories. The first MoU between the AIHW and the Department of Health and Family Services is signed. The first joint AIHW–Australian Bureau of Statistics report on The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is released. The AIHW's first website is launched. The Institute contributes strongly to national data development in the areas of housing assistance (both long-term and short-term), disability services and child protection.

1997–98

Institute policies on privacy and data security are reviewed. The first National Community Services Data Dictionary is produced and development begins on the National Minimum Data Set for Community and Mental Health Care.

1998–99

The National Public Health Information Development Plan is produced. The Institute receives an award for excellence in data management from the Australian Branch of the Data Management Association for the National Health Information Knowledgebase (forerunner of today's Metadata Online Registry—METeOR). The first national data collection on community housing is completed and the first collection of performance data for Indigenous community-managed housing begins. Important data development work in child and youth health, mental health and palliative care is completed. The Institute is invited to be the Australian clearinghouse for adoptions data.

1999–00

The first national Burden of Disease and Injury study and the first national report on the health status of young Australians (aged 12–24), Australia's Young People: Their Health and Wellbeing 1999, are published. The National Housing Data and National Indigenous Housing Information Agreements are signed. Several policies and guidelines to ensure the secure handling of data holdings in accord with proposed changes to the Privacy Act are introduced.

2000–01

An MoU with the Department of Family and Community Services (now FaHCSIA) is signed. The AIHW Act is amended in June 2001 to expand the scope of the Ethics Committee to cover welfare functions. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey is developed. The first National Housing Assistance Data Dictionary is produced.

2001–02

The Institute plays a major role in the implementation of the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Australia. It also contributes to the development and implementation in Australia of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's International Classification for Health Accounts. The AIHW Act is amended to allow for a single AIHW Health and Welfare Ethics Committee rather than the previous two committees.

2002–03

The Institute hosts the 2002 meeting of Heads of WHO Collaborating Centres for the Family of International Classifications. An MoU with the Department of Veterans' Affairs is signed. The first comprehensive report on diabetes, Diabetes Australian Facts 2002, is produced.

2003–04

The Charter of Corporate Governance is developed. The Institute undertakes substantial development work in the management of metadata to support national data standards in health, community services and housing assistance.

Dr Sandra Hacker, AO

(Aug 2001 – Jun 2004)

2004–05

Building on the development work of the previous year, the Institute releases its new Metadata Online Registry (METeOR). Health and Ageing Minister Tony Abbott and the Family and Community Services Minister Senator Kay Patterson launch two significant publications, the 2004 National Drugs Survey Household Survey report and A Picture of Australia's Children, respectively.

The Hon. Peter Collins, AM, QC

(Aug 2004 - Jul 2011)

Dr Penny Allbon

(Feb 2006 – Dec 2010)

2006–07

A relationship with the Canadian Institute for Health Information is established. A database of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-subsidised prescription pharmaceuticals dispensed to people with respiratory diseases is set up. The Institute is commissioned to do all the detailed analysis for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework

2008–09

The Institute plays a key role in the development of indicators for the Intergovernmental Agreements relating to health care, housing and homelessness, disability, and Indigenous reform. The Reconciliation Action Plan is launched

2009–10

There is a large increase in staff numbers at the AIHW to support the development and reporting of data for the national performance indicators required by the Council of Australian Governments reform process, and for the development of a new Specialist Homelessness Services Collection to replace the old Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) collection. The online Closing the Gap Clearinghouse is launched, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Mr David Kalisch

(Dec 2010 – present)

2010–11

The electronic Validata® data validation tool, which significantly enhances and speeds production of timely and quality data, is developed. Creative Commons BY licensing for publications and the website is implemented. A new online AIHW Indigenous Observatory and the MyHospitals website are launched.

2011–12

The new Specialist Homelessness Services data collection is launched. Development of an indicatorbased reporting framework for early childhood development begins. The Institute is the first agency to be accredited as an Integrating Authority.

The Hon. Dr Andrew Refshauge,
MB, BS, FAICD

(Jul 2011 – present)