Indigenous Australians Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Overview

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia. They are not one group, but comprise hundreds of groups that have their own distinct set of languages, histories and cultural traditions.

AIHW reports and other products include information about Indigenous Australians, where data quality permits. Thus, information and statistics about Indigenous Australians can be found in most AIHW products.

In December 2021, AIHW released the Regional Insights for Indigenous Communities (RIFIC). The aim of this website is to provide access to data at a regional level, to help communities set their priorities and participate in joint planning with government and service providers.

AIHW products that focus specifically on Indigenous Australians are captured on this page.

Highlights

31%of Indigenous Australian adults reported 'high or very high' levels of psychological distress in 2018–19, which increased from 27% in 2004–05

16%decrease in the gap in disease burden between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians from 2003 to 2018

85% of Indigenous youth aged 15–17 had never smoked in 2018–19

82% of Indigenous Australians lived in appropriately sized housing in 2018–19

93%of Indigenous babies in the Dubbo Indigenous Region – the region with the highest proportion – were born with a healthy birthweight between 2016 and 2018

66% of Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 had attained Year 12 or equivalent (Certificate II or above) in 2018–19

62% of Indigenous Australians received at least 1 Indigenous-specific health check in the 5-year period to 30 June 2020

3.5 millionepisodes of care were provided by Indigenous-specific primary health care organisations in 2020-21

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