Socioeconomic areas

People living in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic areas tend to present to an emergency department (ED) with injuries more frequently than those living in other areas (Figure 25).

When compared with people living in the least socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, those living in the most disadvantaged areas were 1.6 times as likely to present to ED for injury in 2023–24.

Figure 25: Number and age-standardised rate of ED presentations for injury, by socioeconomic status, Australia, 2018–19 to 2023–24

Timeline of ED presentations by socioeconomic area and triage category. Presentation rates are highest in the most disadvantaged and second most disadvantaged areas.

Timeline of ED presentations by socioeconomic area and triage category. Presentation rates are highest in the most disadvantaged and second most disadvantaged areas.

Notes:

  1. Age-standardised rates per 100,000 population.
  2. See Severity for more information on triage categories.

Sources: AIHW National Non-admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database, and ABS National, state and territory population.

In 2023–24, both the number and rate of injury hospitalisations were highest among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged area (121,202 cases, 2,249.4 per 100,000 people). The number of injury hospitalisations decreased with affluence to 101,743 cases in the least disadvantaged area and an age-standardised rate of 1,755.7 per 100,000 people (Figure 26).

For deaths in 2022–23, there was a clear trend with rates increasing with disadvantage. The number and rate were highest among those most disadvantaged (3,611 cases, an age-standardised mortality rate of 61.7 per 100,000 people), decreasing to 2,415 cases in the least disadvantaged quintile of the population (an age-standardised rate of 37.2 per 100,000 people).

Figure 26: Age-standardised rates of injury hospitalisations by socioeconomic areas, 2014–15 to 2023–24, Australia

Figure 16 shows injury hospitalisations by socioeconomic status. Injury hospitalisations and deaths rates increased with disadvantage.

Figure 16 shows injury hospitalisations by socioeconomic status. Injury hospitalisations and deaths rates increased with disadvantage.

Note: Age-standardised rates per 100,000 population.

Sources: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database and ABS National, state and territory population.

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