Overview

There are many aspects of the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians where significant improvements are continuing or emerging. But significant gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians remain. This disadvantage, or the 'gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, starts from birth and continues throughout life.

More reports and statistics on Indigenous Australians can be found under The health & welfare of Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous health & welfare services.

Latest findings

Tobacco use accounted for 23% of the gap in burden between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians Mental & substance use disorders, such as anxiety, depression and alcohol use disorders, caused 19% of the burden The prevalence of active trachoma among Indigenous 5–9 year olds has decreased since 2009, but plateaued in recent years 5% decrease in the age-standardised rate of total burden in the Indigenous population between 2003 and 2011 Reducing exposure to modifiable risk factors would prevent 37% of the burden of disease in Indigenous Australians 19% of the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians was due to cardiovascular diseases and 14% to injuries Chronic diseases were responsible for 70% of the total health gap in 2011 Median waiting times for cataract surgery Indigenous Australians were longer than non-Indigenous Australians Over one third of Indigenous people with diabetes had not had an eye examination in the preceding 12 months The Indigenous hospitalisation rate for cataract surgery rose by 36% in the last 10 years Indigenous Australians experienced burden 2.3 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians 3 highest ranked disease were coronary heart disease, suicide & self-inflicted injuries and anxiety disorders

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Highlights