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

In 2018, almost 3,200 Indigenous children received clinical services (for example, tooth extraction, fillings) In 2018, almost 5,700 Indigenous children received full-mouth fluoride varnish applications to help prevent tooth decay In 2018, more than 8 in 10 Indigenous children aged 5–10 had tooth decay experience The level of access for cardiac-related health services is improving among Indigenous Australians Between 1998 and 2017, the mortality rate from cardiac conditions for Indigenous Australians fell by 49% Mortality rate from cardiac conditions for Indigenous Australians is 1.5 times that for non-Indigenous Australians In 2018, Indigenous children aged 5 had the highest number of decayed, missing and filled baby teeth (5.6) Incidence of acute rheumatic fever is much higher among Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous Australians In 2018, Indigenous children aged 15 had the highest number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (3.4)

Latest reports

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Highlights

13 to 15%increase in the number of Indigenous Australians who had an eye examination in the preceding 12 months between 2005-06 and 2016-17
64%of the disease burden among Indigenous Australians in 2011 was caused by chronic disease
Active trachomain at-risk communities has fallen from 14% in 2009 to 4.6% in 2015
3 times higherrate of vision impairment and blindness is experienced by Indigenous Australians compared with non-Indigenous Australians
Burden of diseaseexperienced by Indigenous Australians is 2.3 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians
19%of the Indigenous disease burden was caused by mental health and substance use disorders
37%of the Indigenous disease burden could be prevented by reducing exposure to risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity & poor diet