In my second report as Chair of the Board of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, I can again report that the AIHW has fulfilled its very important role of informing policy development and public debate on matters that affect the lives of all Australians—our health and welfare. It has delivered authoritative, nationally consistent health and welfare information to its stakeholders and the general community, and I consider its publication and data catalogues should be the first port of call for anyone doing research in the health and welfare sectors.
There are many highlights from the AIHW’s work for 2011–12 described in this report. Here I will concentrate on relationship-building activities.
Relationships and collaborations are vitally important for the AIHW—with all governments as well as with the non-government sector and universities—as they enable it to meet its legislative remit. Over the past year, the AIHW established new relationships and re-established old ones with a range of organisations.
- It contributed productively to the COAG health reform initiatives and sees a long-term future for the key partnerships with new and established agencies in the health sector that draw upon the AIHW’s long-established information resources.
- The AIHW contributed to information needs for the National Health Performance Authority and the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, and continued its partnership with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
- It finalised a number of memorandums of understanding with newly established agencies, and expects to finalise others early in 2012–13.
- Departments of all Australian governments and the AIHW and other data providers and users signed the National Health Information Agreement revision and the National Community Services Infrastructure Information Agreement. This followed the finalisation of the National Housing Infrastructure Information Agreement in 2011. Together these provide the framework and key understandings for the provision and use of data from governments, as an adjunct to the Institute’s legislative requirements and privacy obligations.
These activities will stand the AIHW in good stead for the future, supplemented, very importantly, by good day-to-day relationships between AIHW staff and those of our partner organisations. I look forward to the AIHW working to support the information requirements of other government and non-government agencies.
It has been my privilege to work with the Board, the Director and the staff of the AIHW over the last 12 months and I look forward to another busy and productive year. The AIHW’s experience and expertise, developed over many years, are recognised as valuable and I am confident that the Institute can meet the information challenges and opportunities afforded it in a dynamic policy world.
The Hon. Andrew Refshauge
Board Chair