Technical notes

This technical notes outlines the specifications used to analyse the Potentially preventable hospitalisations in Australia by small geographic areas, 2017–18 to 2023–24 web report.

This iteration includes data for the periods 2017–18 through to 2023–24, and key information on this update is highlighted in the table below.

Hospital data and populations were accurate as of 18 July 2025.

Table T1: Key information for this release – Potentially preventable hospitalisations by small geographic areas 2017–18 to 2023–24
DefinitionData for this measure are defined in accordance with the National Healthcare Agreement (NHA) Performance Indicator (PI) 18-Selected potentially preventable hospitalisations, 2024
Numerator sourceData were sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD).
Denominator source

Population counts are as of 30 June at the start of the reference period (that is, for the reporting period 2023–24, the estimated resident population as of 30 June 2023 was used) and are derived from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS’) Regional population by age and sex, 2023 (ABS 2024).

Age-standardised rates were standardised to the Australian standard population as of 30 June 2001.
Reporting years2017–18 to 2023–24
Scope of data

22 Potentially preventable hospitalisation (PPH) conditions

3 Potentially preventable hospitalisation (PPH) categories (with subtotal and total)