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On 1 July 2012 the AIHW reached the milestone of 25 years of providing authoritative statistics and information to governments and the community.

The Institute was established as an independent Commonwealth statutory authority for health statistics and research on 1 July 1987, and was at first known as the Australian Institute of Health.

Welfare responsibilities were added via legislation in 1991, with an accompanying name change to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Institute has since built an enviable reputation for independent and authoritative reporting of health and welfare matters—trusted by governments, other key stakeholders in the health and welfare sectors, and the community.

We are perhaps best known for our prolific production of regular reports on almost every aspect of health and/or community services and welfare—now in the order of 140 publications every year.

We are also well-regarded for our very strong privacy and confidentiality arrangements, especially through section 29 of the AIHW Act, which lists jail terms for divulging information concerning a person, and where even a court of law cannot force disclosure of such information.

We have also built, and rely on, strong cooperative relationships with government departments (particularly our portfolio department, the Department of Health and Ageing), statistical agencies such as the ABS, other independent bodies such as the COAG Reform Council and the Productivity Commission, and close engagement with those organisations in the non-government sector that deliver many health and welfare services.

The Institute has grown considerably in its 25 years, from 68 staff at 30 June 1988 to 386 at the end of 2011–12. Two of our current staff have been here for almost the entire journey—Judith Abercromby, currently Head of the Ageing and Aged Care Unit, and Joanne Maples, currently Parliamentary Officer in the Governance Unit.

We celebrated our 25th birthday through a variety of events and other innovations, including:

  • a special edition of our Access magazine
  • a gathering of Board chairs and directors past and present
  • a staff afternoon tea incorporating a lively tongue-in-cheek debate on the value of pie charts
  • commemorative ‘25 years’ backdrops at the Australia’s health 2012 conference held in June 2012.

When asked for words that described the essence of the Institute, the three current longest-serving members of staff chose ‘engaged’, ‘honest’ and ‘community’. Three newly-appointed graduates chose ‘social’, ‘progressive’ and ‘welcoming’.

We like to think all six qualities lie at the heart of the AIHW’s culture, reputation and success. 

25 years at AIHW—Our achievements

25 years at AIHW - timeline thumbnail PNG

See this timeline as a chart

1987

  • Australian Institute of Health (AIH) established as a statutory authority.

1988

  • First Australia's health report published.
  • In 2012, we published the 13th edition of this flagship report.

1992

  • The Institute becomes the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) with role expanded to include welfare-related information and statistics.
  • AIHW becomes a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.
  • We continue to be a Collaborating Centre.
  • First data catalogue and health data dictionary published.
  • Today, the data catalogue is published on the AIHW website and the 15th edition of the National health data dictionary is in use.
  • First national health information agreement signed.
  • A new National Health Information Agreement was signed in 2011.

1993

  • First Australia's welfare report published.
  • In 2011, we published the 10th edition of this flagship report.

1995

  • First national information agreements for community services and housing signed.
  • New agreements were reached in 2011.
  • MoU agreed between the AIHW and the Department of Health and Family Services.
  • We continue to work with DoHA under an MoU.
  • First joint AIHW–Australian Bureau of Statistics report on The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
  • In 2011, we launched an online Indigenous Observatory which features this report, now in its 7th edition.
  • AIHW website launched.

2000

  • First community services and housing data dictionaries published.
  • Now in their 7th and 3rd editions respectively.
  • MoUs signed with the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  • MoUs remain in place today.

2004

  • AIHW Board adopted its Charter of Corporate Governance.
  • Metadata Online Registry (METeOR) launched.
  • METeOR now used by other agencies to register their health and welfare metadata.

2009

  • Closing the Gap Clearinghouse developed in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

2010

  • MyHospitals website launched.
  • Developed Validata™ data validation tool to enhance and speed production of timely, quality data.
  • Increased focus on contemporary presentation of information through web snapshots, interactive products and 'in brief' reports.

2011

  • Specialist Homelessness Services Collection and new web-based reporting tools launched.
  • First data released 2012.

2012

  • AIHW accredited as an Integrating Authority to undertake linkage of sensitive data from Commonwealth agencies.