Method for allocating direct expenditure by the Australian Government to states and territories
To estimate the overall levels of public health expenditure in each state and territory, it is necessary to allocate the Australian Government funding in supporting public health programs on a state and territory basis. The Australian Government funds expenditure on public health activities through:
- the provision of FFAs to states and territories
- its own direct expenditure in supporting public health programs.
The Australian Government’s FFAs can readily be allocated on a state and territory basis. Because its direct expenditures are generally not available on this basis, other indicators need to be used to allocate these expenditures.
Except for the purchases of essential vaccines by the Australian Government on behalf of the state and territory governments, direct expenditure by the Australian Government has been apportioned across state and territories using population measures that directly relate to the recipients or the people that are direct beneficiaries of the expenditure. For example, direct expenditure on breast cancer screening has been split according to the relative share of specific target populations in each state and territory – in this case women aged 50–74 years. Alternatively, where the specific populations are not readily identifiable, then the total populations for each state and territory have been used.
Public health activity categories | Population groups |
|---|---|
Communicable disease control
| Total state/territory population numbers Total state/territory population numbers Total state/territory population numbers |
Selected health promotion | Total state/territory population numbers |
Organised immunisation | Total state/territory population numbers |
Environmental health | Total state/territory population numbers |
Foods standards and hygiene | Total state/territory population numbers |
Screening programs
| Females aged 50–74 years by state/territory Recipients by state of location Females aged 25–75 years by state/territory Adult population aged 50–74 years by state/territory |
Prevention of hazardous and harmful drug | Total state/territory population numbers Total state/territory population numbers Total state/territory population numbers Total state/territory population numbers |
Public health research | Total state/territory population numbers |
Public health n.f.d. | Total state/territory population numbers |
Note: These are the population groups used by the AIHW to apportion the expenditure. The actual target groups of the associated programs may vary.