It was with much pleasure that I accepted the position of Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) earlier this year. My previous roles in the health and welfare sectors have provided me with an excellent understanding and appreciation of the role of the Institute in providing information on matters of vital concern to every Australian.
The year under review posed various challenges for the AIHW, all of which were met with the responsiveness and professionalism which have become the Institute's hallmark. As noted in last year's report by my predecessor, the demands for quality and authoritative information and statistics are steadily increasing, and this presents both challenges and opportunities for the AIHW.
In 2010–11, the Institute again delivered quality, nationally-consistent health and welfare information to its stakeholders and the general community. This information plays a tremendously important role in informing policy development and public debate in matters which affect the lives of every Australian.
The AIHW has continued its work to develop new data and to set the national standards for the reporting of a broad range of existing and improved data sets. A significant part of this activity involved the development and reporting of data for the national performance indicators required by the Council of Australian Governments reform process. In this role, the AIHW has worked with other government agencies and stakeholders across the nation.
The AIHW continues to earn respect for its wide range of quality reports and other publications. One highlight among many during the year was the launch of The health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2011, alongside the 'Indigenous Observatory' website. Both products were well-received and attracted considerable media attention. They are widely used as authoritative and interesting sources of information in a high profile area of public policy.
The former Chair, the Hon Peter Collins AM, QC, steered the organisation through a period of significant change during his nearly seven years in this role.
In this endeavour, he and the AIHW Board were well supported by the former Director, Dr Penny Allbon, who, until her retirement in late 2010, made a major contribution to the Institute. Dr Allbon was well-supported by qualified and talented staff, the commitment and work of whom I have been able to observe in my relatively short time as Chair.
Our new Director, David Kalisch, who joined the Institute in December 2010, has already stamped his mark on the organisation, bringing with him the perspectives of his many years of experience in the Australian Public Service.
I look forward to working with the Board, the Director, and staff in taking the Institute forward as it addresses emerging challenges and opportunities in a dynamic information and policy environment.
The Hon. Andrew Refshauge
Board Chair