This report presents statistics on the Australian residential aged care system over the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. It is the sixth such report in the Aged Care Statistics Series produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, under an agreement with the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. The report contains sections on population and residential aged care service capacity; residents and their characteristics; admissions and separations; characteristics of newly admitted residents; and resident dependency.