Summary

Information and Data

The National Advisory Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Information and Data (NAGATSIHID) was established, as a result of a decision by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) in October 2000, to improve reporting on the status of health of Indigenous Australians.

The NAGATSIHID was set up as the national body to create a partnership between the Commonwealth, jurisdictions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve Indigenous information in national and jurisdictional data collections.

What makes NAGATSIHID different from other committees is:

  • the level of representation from the governments (chaired by an AHMAC representative)
  • it has a majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander membership with representatives from a wide range of key stakeholders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health such as the Community Controlled sector, academia and the government sector
  • it reports to AHMAC through NEHIPC but the chair of NAGATSIHID can bring issues directly to the attention of AHMAC
  • it provides a unique example of an effective working partnership between government agencies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to advance the development and use of data and information on the health of Indigenous Australians
  • having a majority of Indigenous people on NAGATSIHID gives the agencies some confidence that the decisions by AHMAC (through NAGATSIHID) reflect the views of Indigenous people and their representative bodies, and
  • it is recognised internationally and has been responsible for many of the significant changes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health statistics and data.