Annual health assessments
- Measure 2.1.1
- The number of people who had a First Nations specific health assessment (MBS item 715 or 228) including a health assessment provided via videoconference or teleconference (MBS item 92004, 92011, 92016, 92023), proportion of the population and age-standardised rates.
Where a person had both an in-person health check and a telehealth check in a year, one health check was selected at random for inclusion in the analysis (Figure 13 and Figure 14).
All First Nations people, regardless of age, are eligible for a First Nations-specific health assessment which should include an eye health check.
Figure 13: Annual health assessments, 2020–21 and 2021–22
Measure 2.1.1: The number of First Nations people who had an Indigenous health assessment (MBS item 715 or 228) including a health assessment provided via videoconference or teleconference (MBS item 92004, 92011, 92016, 92023), proportion of the population and age-standardised rates.
Annual health assessments, 2020–21 and 2021–22
Number and proportion of First Nations people that had an MBS health assessment, 2020–21 and 2021–22
This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot displays the number and proportion of MBS health assessments in 2020–21 and 2021–22. The chart shows that 27% of First Nations people had Indigenous-specific MBS health assessments in 2020–21. This declined to 24% 2021–22.
In 2021–22, just under one-quarter (208,620 or 24%) of First Nations people had a First Nations specific health assessment.
Figure 14: Annual health assessments: interactive data
Annual health assessments: interactive data
This interactive data visualisation shows 5 separate charts showing the crude percentage of First Nations people who had Indigenous specific health checks by the following categories.
Proportion of the First Nations population that had an MBS health assessment by region, 2021–22
This vertical bar chart compares the proportion of MBS health assessments in 2021–22, by remoteness category of geographic location. The chart shows that the proportion of MBS 715 health assessments was highest in Outer regional (30%) and Remote areas (27%). The proportion was lowest in Major cities (21%).
Proportion of the First Nations population that had an MBS health assessment by jurisdiction, 2021–22
This vertical bar chart compares the proportion of MBS health assessments in 2021–22, by state and territory. The chart shows that the proportion of MBS health assessments was highest in Queensland (30%) and the Northern Territory (25%) and was lowest in ACT and Victoria (12% and 11%, respectively).
Proportion of the First Nations population that had an MBS health assessment by age and sex, 2021–22
This grouped vertical bar chart compares the proportion of MBS item 715 health assessments in 2021–22, by age and sex. The chart shows that the proportion of MBS health assessments were very similar for Indigenous males and females aged 0–14— 23% and 21%, respectively. For all other age groups except 75+, the proportion for Indigenous females was higher than for Indigenous males.
Proportion of the First Nations population that had an MBS health assessment by PHN, 2021–22 (bar chart)
This horizontal bar chart shows the proportion of MBS health assessments in 2021–22, by PHN. The chart shows that the PHNs with the lowest proportion of health assessments were Northern Sydney (5.3%) and South Eastern Melbourne (6%), while those with the highest rates were Western NSW (32%) and Brisbane North (33%).
Proportion of the First Nations population that had an MBS health assessment by age, 2011–12 to 2020–22
This line graph shows changes in the proportion of MBS health assessments, from 2010–11 to 2021–22, by age group. The chart shows that, between 2011–12 and 2018–19, the age-standardised proportion of MBS health assessments increased over time. This increase occurred across all age groups, but was highest for those aged 65–74 and 75 and over (from around 18% to around 39% for both groups). From 2018-19 to 2020-21 the rate was flat or declining for all age groups and then declined sharply for all age groups 2020-21.
- In 2021–22, just under one-quarter (208,620 or 24%) of First Nations people had a First Nations-specific health assessment. This included over 4,000 health assessments provided via videoconference or teleconference (see Indigenous health checks and follow ups, supplementary tables).
- The proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment increased from around 12% in 2011–12 to 28% for the 0-14 age group and 23% for the 15–24 age group in 2018–19, before declining to 21% and 19% for both age groups, respectively, in 2021–22. For those aged 75 and over the proportion rose from 20% in 2011–12 to around 37% in 2017–18, before plateauing at around 39% from 2018–19 to 2020–21 and then decreasing to around 36% in 2021–22.
- In 2021–22, the number and proportion of First Nations males aged 0–14 who had a health assessment was slightly higher than the number and proportion of females – 32,511 (23%) and 28,929 (21%), respectively. For all other age groups, health assessments for First Nations females outnumbered those for First Nations males.