Health checks and follow-ups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people are eligible for an annual health check tailored to their needs, funded through Medicare. These health checks aim to identify common health conditions that disproportionately affect First Nations people – such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues – supporting early detection and preventive care.

During the health check, a general practitioner (GP), often supported by a multidisciplinary team, assesses the individual’s physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. The GP may provide health advice and refer the person to other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, podiatrists, or dietitians, for follow-up care under Medicare items specifically available to First Nations people.

This report presents the latest data and trends in the use of health checks and follow-up services, disaggregated by age, sex, and geography. Detailed results are available through an interactive Dashboard, and high-level results are described on the Trends and insights page.

Note that many statistics are presented as proportions of the First Nations population, corresponding with the ABS 2021 Census-based estimates and projections. These are not directly comparable with those from previous reports that used 2016 Census-based population estimates.

Note, also, that follow-up results are preliminary for 2024. These are based on data from the first 6 months of 2024 (January to June) but will be finalised in the next edition.