This indicator reports on the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15–17 who have never smoked. The goal for this indicator is 91% by 2023.
Why is it important?
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Australia. In the Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011, tobacco smoking was estimated to contribute 12% of the disease burden among Indigenous Australians. Smoking was also the risk factor most responsible for the gap in disease burden between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous Australians in 2011, accounting for 23% of the total gap (AIHW 2016).
What data are available?
Data for this indicator were sourced from the ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health surveys and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social surveys.
What do the data show?
Progress towards the goal is on track.
- The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15–17 who had never smoked increased from 61% in 2002 to 85% in 2018–19.
- In 2018–19, the rate (84.6%) was slightly below the trajectory point required to meet the goal (85.6%). However, taking into account sampling error associated with the survey data, the goal can be considered on track.
In 2018–19:
- 85% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15–17 reported having never smoked—this was an increase from 78% in 2014–15
- 85% of Indigenous youth aged 15–17 in non-remote areas had never smoked, compared with 74% in remote areas
- the proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 15–17 who had never smoked was similar between males (83%) and females (84%).