The AIHW had collaborative arrangements in place during 2011–12 with a number of research organisations, based mainly at universities:
- Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research Limited
- Dental Statistics and Research Unit at The University of Adelaide
- National Injury Surveillance Unit at Flinders University
- National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit at the University of New South Wales.
Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring
The AIHW has an agreement until June 2013 with the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research Limited for the monitoring of asthma and linked chronic respiratory conditions by the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring in Sydney.
Unit head
Professor Guy Marks
What we do
The Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring aims to help reduce the burden of asthma in Australia by developing, collating and interpreting data relevant to asthma prevention, management and health policy.
Objectives
- Contribute to the development of a systematic approach to the surveillance of chronic respiratory conditions in Australia
- Monitor and report on disease levels and the burden and trends associated with asthma in the general population and specific population groups
- Examine social, geographical and environmental differentials that may influence the disease levels and burden associated with asthma
- Identify the potential for improved asthma prevention and management strategies
- Track the effects of changes in asthma prevention and management strategies
- Develop and manage special projects and collaborations for the integration and enhancement of asthma-related information
| Performance in planned statistical and reporting deliverables |
| Finalise and publish Asthma in Australia 2011 |
Achieved |
| Publish a report on influenza and pneumococcal vaccines among people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on the use of antibiotics among people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Contribute to a report on the geographical distribution of asthma |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Contribute to the website snapshot on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
Achieved |
| Contribute to the website snapshot on asthma |
Achieved |
| Contribute to a chronic disease monitoring framework |
Achieved |
The last four of the above deliverables are joint projects with the Primary Health and Respiratory and Musculoskeletal Monitoring Unit.
Performance in planned data development activities
- Improved national data collections for respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other related chronic respiratory diseases, for example, through the development of advice about options for improving information about vaccination status for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Dental Statistics and Research Unit
The AIHW has an agreement until 30 June 2013 with The University of Adelaide for the operation of the Dental Statistics and Research Unit in Adelaide. The unit collects, collates and analyses statistics relating to dental care and oral health, dental services and service providers; and undertakes associated research studies.
Unit heads
Dr Liana Luzzi
Dr Jane Harford
What we do
The Dental Statistics and Research Unit aims to improve the oral health of Australians through the collection, analysis and reporting of dental statistics, and through research on dental health status, dental practices and the use of dental services, and the dental labour force.
Objectives
- Publish dental labour force statistics in the form of the 'Dental statistics and research' series and research reports
- Conduct the National Dental Telephone Interview Survey
- Complete data development activities to meet COAG reporting requirements
| Performance in planned statistical and reporting deliverables |
| Contribute to Australia's health 2012 |
Achieved |
| Provide performance indicator data on the number of dental services required for reporting under the National Health Agreement |
Achieved |
| Finalise and publish Oral health and dental care in Australia: key facts and figures 2011 |
Achieved |
| Finalise and publish 'Dental statistics and research' series reports: |
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Achieved |
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Achieved |
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Achieved |
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Achieved |
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Achieved |
| Publish 'Dental statistics and research' series reports on: |
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Achieved |
- adult oral health and dental visiting 2010
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
- child and teenager oral health and dental visiting 2010
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
- fissure sealant use among children attending school dental services from the Child Dental Health Survey 2008
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
- oral health of rural children attending a school dental service from the Child Dental Health Survey 2009
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish bulletins on: |
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- oral health and chronic disease
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
- families and their oral health
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Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
Performance in planned data development activities
- Commented on performance indicators on the number of dental services and on waiting times for public dentistry required for the National Health Agreement
Additional projects
- Finalised and published Dental decay among Australian children
Committees
- National Oral Health Plan Monitoring Group: Member of this Community Care and Population Health Principal Committee group; the monitoring group is chaired by Mr Kevin Buckett (SA Health)
Data collections managed
- Child Dental Health Survey Data Collection
- National Dental Telephone Interview Survey Data Collection
- Adult Dental Programs Survey Data Collection
National Injury Surveillance Unit
The AIHW has an agreement with Flinders University for the operation of the National Injury Surveillance Unit in Adelaide until 30 June 2013. The unit develops, coordinates, interprets and disseminates relevant information, research and analysis to inform community discussion and support policy making and control of injury.
Unit head
Associate Professor James Harrison
What we do
The National Injury Surveillance Unit develops and reports on a range of national statistical information on injury in Australia. It also contributes to the improvement of national information on injury and the work of the WHO in developing the International Classification of Diseases.
Objectives
- Analyse and report on injury data
- Assess needs and opportunities for new information sources and mechanisms, and for improvement of existing ones
- Develop new information sources and other relevant infrastructure, particularly in relation to spinal cord injury
- Provide advice and other services to assist those who are engaged in injury control and related matters
| Performance in planned statistical and reporting deliverables |
| Contribute to Australia's health 2012 |
Achieved |
| Publish a report on hospitalisations due to injury and poisoning for 2009–10 and three reports for the preceding 3 years |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on hospitalised spinal cord injury for 2009–10 |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on Hospitalisations due to falls by older people, Australia for 2009–10 and three reports for the preceding 3 years |
Achieved
for 2006–07 to 2008–09
Work in progress
for 2009–10; to be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish Serious injury due to land transport accidents, Australia 2008–09, a report for the previous year, a report on trends from 2000–01 to 2008–09 and a report on trends for accidents involving a railway train from 2004–05 to 2008–09 |
Achieved |
| Publish a report on deaths due to injury and mortality processes |
Not achieved
Removed from the work plan due to insufficient data |
| Publish Obesity and injury: a review of the literature |
Achieved |
| Publish a report on obesity and injury in the National Hospital Morbidity Database |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on selected drugs and their association with injury: results from the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on alcohol-related injury: results from the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish a report on injury experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: analysis of the 2004–05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
Performance in planned data development activities
- Continued work to convert the Spinal Cord Injury Register from an injury incidence register into a clinical quality register, in collaboration with clinical and other stakeholders
- Cleaned and prepared morbidity and mortality data relevant to injury surveillance
- Provided a public information and advisory service
- Undertook classification enhancement and development work and contributed to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision
- Undertook data development work related to Global Burden of Disease methods for injury surveillance
Additional projects
- Drafted a statistical report on hospitalised injury in NSW children for the NSW Commission for Children and Young People (to be published in 2012–13)
Committees
- International Classification of Diseases Revision Steering Group, Injury and External Causes Topic Advisory Group: Chair of this WHO committee
- National Injury Prevention Working Group: Member of this Community Care and Population Health Principal Committee working group, which is chaired by Mr Kevin Bucket (SA Health)
- National Child Information Advisory Group: Member of this AIHW advisory group chaired by Professor George Patton (The University of Melbourne)
Data collections managed
- Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register
Spotlight
Focus on the National Injury Surveillance Unit
Injury affects Australians of all ages—it is the greatest cause of death in the first half of life, and leaves many people with serious disability or other long-term health conditions.
The National Injury Surveillance Unit (NISU) is a collaborating unit of the AIHW based at Flinders University in Adelaide. The unit recently has been involved in exploring the link between obesity and injury. The report, Obesity and injury: a review of the literature, investigates the nature and extent of obesity–injury relationships, with most evidence suggesting that obesity does increase the risk of injury.
The report discusses the likelihood that falls, trips or stumbles rise with obesity.
'However, the increased risk of falls in the obese may be somewhat offset by the possible protective effects of body fat as cushioning and of increased bone density in weight-bearing joints', said Dr Sophie Pointer, NISU's Deputy Director.
The report concludes that obesity can also increase the incidence of workplace injury. It also possibly risky for employees working with obese people, such as hospital workers and nurses, who may have to lift, carry or manoeuvre weighty patients.
The team continues to build on the knowledge of the nature, causes, effects and control of injury in other areas too, including a focus on the relationship between alcohol, drugs and injury and on the injury experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As Professor James Harrison, NISU's Director since 1990, summed up: 'Our work has the potential to create greater awareness and understanding of injury and its relationship to policy, and its impact on health and health services. We have big potential to make a difference—and that's why we do it.'
National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit
The AIHW has an agreement until 30 June 2013 with the University of New South Wales for the operation of the National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit in Sydney. The unit provides national leadership in the development and study of statistics relating to perinatal health; collecting, collating and analysing statistics relating to perinatal health; and initiating and undertaking associated research studies.
Unit head
Professor Elizabeth Sullivan
What we do
The National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit aims to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies in Australia through:
- research, analysis and reporting on reproductive, maternal and perinatal health, including assisted reproduction, pregnancy outcomes, maternal morbidity and mortality, admission to neonatal intensive care and perinatal mortality
- assessing needs and opportunities for new information sources and mechanisms and improvement of existing information sources
- developing new information sources and other relevant infrastructure
- providing advice and other services to help others who are engaged in monitoring and research in perinatal health.
Objectives
- Publish reports on reproductive and perinatal health that cover pregnancy outcomes, maternal morbidity and mortality and assisted reproduction
- Undertake work to support reporting against the National Indigenous Reform Agreement and National Health Agreement performance
- Undertake data development to improve capacity for national perinatal data, to allow reporting on the main pregnancy factors and perinatal outcomes
- Work with stakeholders to identify emerging information gaps and needs, support the review of perinatal health and maternity services, and identify future funding opportunities
| Performance in planned statistical and reporting deliverables |
| Contribute to Australia's health 2012 |
Achieved |
| Publish Australia's mothers and babies 2009 |
Achieved |
| Contribute data tables for What works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage: key learnings and gaps in the evidence 2010–11 |
Achieved |
| Contribute data tables for a 2012 report on children |
Achieved |
| Contribute data tables for the SCGRSP's Report on government services 2012 |
Achieved |
| Publish a report on fetal deaths for 2001–2007 |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Produce annual statistical tables for three National Healthcare Agreement indicators and four National Indigenous Reform Agreement indicators using perinatal data |
Achieved |
| Publish a bulletin on developing data for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders |
Work in progress
To be published in 2012–13 |
| Publish Maternity data in Australia: a review of sources and gaps |
Achieved |
| Develop a new report structure in preparation for an enhanced maternal death report |
Achieved |
| Publish Neural tube defects in Australia: prevalence before mandatory folic acid fortification |
Achieved |
| Publish Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2009 |
Achieved |
Performance in planned data development activities
- Provided expert input into AIHW perinatal data development
- Enhanced national metadata standards in the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set by adding selected data elements that are currently consistently collected by state-and territory-based agencies through the National Perinatal Data Collection
- Provided statistical advice and information for ad hoc information requests
- Assisted in preparing tender documentation for the National Core Maternity Indicators Project and the perinatal components for the National Preventive Health Agency indicator project
- Undertook data development for the Core Maternity Indicators Project
- Undertook data linkage to support improved maternal deaths reporting
- Managed three components of the National Maternal and Perinatal Data Development Project to:
- update the second version of the Maternity Information Matrix (MIMv2)
- complete the first stage review of published literature to support the nomenclature for models of care project
- establish the National Maternal Mortality Committee and prepare a maternal mortality report, including a chapter on late maternal deaths up to 1 year after birth
- Worked jointly with the Children, Youth and Families Unit in the:
- development of consultation and communication strategies for the development of a nationally consistent and comprehensive maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity data collection project
- assessment of existing data collections to support national information needs in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, and identification of the options for fixing data inconsistencies and gaps
Additional projects
- Drafted a bulletin for the National Core Maternity Indicators Project
Committees
- International Network of Obstetric Survey Systems: Member of the Network Secretariat of this multinational collaboration, chaired by Professor Marion Knight (Oxford University, United Kingdom)
- Maternal Morbidity Working Group: Member of this WHO technical consultation group chaired by Dr Lale Say (WHO)
- International Committee Monitoring of Assisted Reproductive Technology: Secretary and treasurer of this independent, international non-profit organisation, chaired by Dr David Adamson (Fertility Physicians of Northern California)
- Australasian Maternity Outcomes Surveillance System Advisory Group: Chair of this national surveillance system advisory committee
- Australian and New Zealand Stillbirth Alliance: Board member of the Australian and New Zealand arm of the International Stillbirth Alliance; the Australian alliance is chaired by Associate Professor Adrian Charles (University of Western Australia)
- Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network Advisory Group: Chair of this project advisory group for the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network
- National Maternity Data Development Project Advisory Group: Member of this advisory group for the National Maternity Data Development Project; the group is chaired by the AIHW
- Expert Commentary Group—National Core Maternity Indicators Project: Member of this project advisory group chaired by the AIHW
- National Maternal Mortality Committee: Chair of this advisory committee for the Maternal Mortality Report component of the National Maternity Data Development Project
- Nomenclature of Models of Care Working Party: Chair of this advisory committee for the Nomenclature of Models of Care component of the National Maternity Data Development Project
- National Perinatal Data Development Committee: Deputy chair for this advisory committee on perinatal data development, which is chaired by Ms Suzanne Cornes (Queensland Health)
- Clinical Technical Group for Obstetrics and Paediatrics for ICD 10 AM and AR DRG development: Member of this technical advisory group that supports various committees reporting to the Clinical Casemix Committee of Australia
- National Child Information Advisory Group: Member of this AIHW advisory group chaired by Professor George Patton (The University of Melbourne)
- NSW Centre for Health Record Linkage Advisory Committee: Member of this advisory committee chaired by Professor Bruce Armstrong (The University of Sydney)
Data collections managed
- National Perinatal Data Collection
- Australian Congenital Anomalies Monitoring System Collection
- National Maternal Deaths Data Collection