Latest AIHW publication releases

National opioid pharmacotherapy statistics annual data collection 2012

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

On a snapshot day in 2012, almost 47,000 clients received pharmacotherapy treatment for their opioid dependence at 2,226 dosing points around Australia. As in previous years, methadone was the most common pharmacotherapy drug, with around two-thirds (68%) of clients treated with this drug. There were 1,768 prescribers of opioid pharmacotherapy drugs, an increase of 14% from 2011.

Healthy for Life—Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: report card

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Healthy for Life (HfL) report card provides information against Essential Indicators from the HfL Program for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) that have participated in the program since 2007 and the 2010-11 OSR data for ACCHS. In addition, background information on the Indigenous population in general are provided from the 2011 Census preliminary estimates and various AIHW reports. The HfL program is funded by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) and has a strong focus on continuous quality improvement. This report card was produced with funding from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

Specialist homelessness services collection manual - July 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:05:00 GMT

SHS collection manual - July 21013 edition.

Towards better Indigenous health data

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report describes Phase 1 of the support and evaluation project of the AIHW's National best practice guidelines for collecting Indigenous status in health data sets (the Guidelines). It found that the processes for, and status of, Guidelines implementation varied across data sets and health sectors in scope for this project. The report identifies barriers to and facilitators for implementation across the various health sectors, and recommends how implementation processes could be improved.

Report on the use of linked data relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The Council of Australian Governments funded the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to review past, ongoing and planned data linkage studies that have an Indigenous focus. This report reviews these data linkage activities and is a companion document to the .

Thematic list of projects using linked data relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The Council of Australian Governments directed the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to review past, ongoing and planned data linkage studies that have an Indigenous focus. This document thematically lists these data linkage activities, and is a companion document to the Report on the use of linked data relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cervical screening in Australia 2010-2011

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Cervical screening in Australia 2010-2011 presents the latest national statistics monitoring the National Cervical Screening Program, which aims to reduce incidence, morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Around 57% of women in the target age group of 20-69 took part in the program, with more than 3.6 million women screened in 2010 and 2011. Cervical cancer incidence in this age group remains at a historical low of 9 new cases per 100,000 women, and deaths are also low, historically and by international standards, at 2 deaths per 100,000 women.

Oral health and dental care in Australia: key facts and figures 2012

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report presents the most recent information on the oral health and dental care of Australians. Data are presented on tooth decay, tooth loss, dental appearance, dental visits, insurance cover and the dental workforce. Data show that in 2010, around 64% of people aged 5 and over had visited a dentist in the previous year and 54% had some level of private dental insurance.

The dental health of Australia's children by remoteness: Child Dental Health Survey Australia 2009

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This publication describes the dental health of Australian children examined by school dental service staff in 2009 and provides insights into the dental health of rural children. Dental decay was relatively common, with around half of children examined having a history of decay. Children in Regional and Remote areas were at increased risk of dental decay in their baby teeth compared with those in Major cities.

A snapshot of rheumatoid arthritis

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most severe form of arthritis, affecting around 2% of Australians. Even though management of the condition has improved markedly in recent years, largely because of the availability of new medicines, people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely than those without the condition to report severe pain, poor health status and psychological distress. The size of indirect costs associated with rheumatoid arthritis, such as productivity losses and the cost for carers, are currently unknown.

National social housing survey 2012: a summary of national results

Mon, 27 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Social housing is a significant component of housing assistance and includes all rental housing owned and managed by government or a not-for-profit community organisation which can be let to eligible households. The National Social Housing Survey (NSHS) is designed to gather information on social housing tenants and their housing experiences. This report presents a national summary of the results from the 2012 NSHS and reports findings from public housing, community housing and state owned and managed Indigenous housing tenants.

Impact of improvements to Indigenous identification in hospital data on patterns of hospitalised injury

Mon, 27 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report examines the effects of improvements in Indigenous identification in hospitals data on patterns of hospitalised injury among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The inclusion of hospitalisation data from New South Wales and Victoria has led to a change in the injury profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which appears to be driven by the differences in remoteness between the two groupings.

AIHW Access no. 35, 2013

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Access is a newsletter published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, profiling the Institute's work and its people.

Obesity and injury in the National Hospital Morbidity Database

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Obesity and injury are major health burdens on society. This report studies the feasibility of using the National Hospital Morbidity Database to investigate the relationship between obesity and hospitalised injury in Australia. The database does not currently provide a reliable basis for measuring obesity among admitted patients or for assessing the characteristics of injury cases with obesity. Inclusion of height and weight information in separations data would enable analysis of the effects of body mass index on injury occurrence, treatment and outcomes.

Development of nationally consistent subacute and non-acute admitted patient care data definitions and guidelines

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

In August 2012, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority engaged the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to develop nationally consistent definitions and business rules for subacute and non-acute admitted patient care and care types for implementation in national hospital datasets. The data element for 'care type' was revised to include a definition of subacute care. It also clarified that subacute care: is delivered under the management of or informed by a clinician with specialised expertise in the care type; be evidenced by an individualised multidisciplinary management plan that is documented in the patient's medical record; and reflect both the characteristics of the patient and the expertise of the treating clinician.

Indigenous identification in hospital separations data: quality report

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report presents the results of a study on the quality of Indigenous identification in administrative records of hospitalisations in public hospitals in Australia. An estimated 88% of Indigenous patients were correctly identified in public hospital admission records in 2011-12. The report also recommends that data for all jurisdictions be included in any analysis of hospitalisations by Indigenous status and that correction factors be used to adjust total hospital data from 2010-11 onwards.

Youth justice in Australia 2011-12: an overview

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The overview presents figures on the number of young people that were under juvenile justice supervision in 2011-12. The overview provides a breakdown on the number of young people who were supervised in the community and those in detention it also provides Indigenous rates.

Australian hospital statistics 2011–12

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

'Australian hospital statistics 2011-12' presents a detailed overview of Australia's public and private hospitals. In 2011-12, there were about 9.3 million separations from hospitals, including: 5.5 million same-day acute separations; 3.7 million overnight acute separations; about 423,000 sub-acute and non-acute separations. There were also 7.8 million non-admitted patient emergency services and more than 45 million outpatient services provided by public hospitals.

Australia's hospitals 2011-12: at a glance

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

'Australia's hospitals 2011-12: at a glance' provides information on Australia's 1,345 public and private hospitals. In 2011-12, there were 9.3 million hospitalisations, including 2.4 million admissions involving surgery. Public hospitals provided 7.8 million non-admitted patient emergency services, with 72% of patients seen within recommended times for their triage category. This publication is a companion to 'Australian hospital statistics 2011-12'.

Demonstration projects for improving sexual health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth: evaluation report

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health funded six demonstration projects aimed at improving the sexual health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people over 3 years. An evaluation of the projects by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and identified that successful sexual health programs consulted a broad range of stakeholders; engaged and developed partnerships with the community, organisations and services; were culturally appropriate and flexible in their design, delivery and implementation; and had staff who were respected by the community.

The desire to age in place among older Australians

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Many older Australians report a desire to age in place. This bulletin explores the relationship between this desire and the housing circumstances of older Australians of different tenure types; that is, those who own their home outright, those paying a mortgage and those who rent their home either privately or through social housing.

Hospitalisations due to falls by older people, Australia: 2009-10

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report is the sixth in a series on hospitalisations due to falls by Australians aged 65 and over, and focuses on 2009-10.The estimated number of hospitalised injury cases due to falls in older people was 83,800 - more than 5,100 extra cases than in 2008-09 - and about 70% of these falls happened in either the home or an aged care facility.One in every 10 days spent in hospital by a person aged 65 and older in 2009-10 was directly attributable to an injurious fall (1.3 million patient days over the year), and the average total length of stay per fall injury case was estimated to be 15.5 days.

Expenditure on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2010-11

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

In 2010-11, health expenditure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was estimated at $4.6 billion, or 3.7% of Australia's total recurrent health expenditure. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population comprised 2.5% of the Australian population at this time. Expenditure equated to $7,995 per Indigenous person, which was 1.47 times greater than the $5,437 spent per non-Indigenous Australian in the same year. Governments funded 91.4% of health expenditure for Indigenous people, compared with 68.1% for non-Indigenous people.

Geographic distribution of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalisations in Australia: 2007-08 to 2009-10

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report investigates how hospitalisation rates for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) vary across Australia. Maps in the report show higher hospitalisation rates for both asthma and COPD in inland and rural areas of Australia. Socioeconomic status, remoteness and the proportion of the population that identifies as Indigenous all have a significant association with the hospitalisation rates for asthma and COPD by area.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report: Western Australia

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern. For example, while death rates for avoidable causes and circulatory diseases have declined since 1997, about half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and there has been no improvement in incidence rates of treated end-stage renal disease in recent years.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report: New South Wales

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern. For example, death rates for avoidable causes and circulatory diseases have declined since 2001, but almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and unemployment rates continue to remain higher for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report: South Australia

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing. For example, while death rates for Indigenous infants and Indigenous people of all ages have declined since 1991, more than half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and unemployment rates continue to remain higher for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report: Victoria

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern. For example, while health assessments have increased significantly and immunisation coverage for Indigenous children is similar to non-Indigenous children by the age of 2, the incidence of treated end-stage renal disease is 4 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians and unemployment rates continue to remain higher for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report: Queensland

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing. For example, while death rates for avoidable causes and circulatory diseases have declined since 2001, just over half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and there has been no improvement in incidence rates of treated end-stage renal disease in recent years.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2010-11: state and territory findings

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

About 700 agencies provide treatment for alcohol and other drug issues in Australia, and three-quarters of these agencies are in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Most of the closed episodes provided in 2010-11 were for clients receiving treatment for their own drug use, and alcohol was the most common principal drug of concern in most states and territories. Counselling was the most common main treatment type in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, and was the second most common main treatment in the remaining state and territories.

Rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever in Australia: 1996-2011

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report examines and presents a range of data on acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia. It shows that ARF now occurs almost exclusively in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and that the prevalence of RHD is much higher among Indigenous people than other Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also considerably more likely to be hospitalised with ARF or RHD, and to die from RHD.

Dementia care in hospitals: costs and strategies

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report estimates the cost of caring for people with dementia in New South Wales hospitals, and presents strategies and practices being implemented in Australia and internationally that might improve outcomes for people with dementia and reduce care costs. The average cost of hospital care for people with dementia was generally higher than for people without dementia ($7,720 compared with $5,010 per episode). The total cost of hospital care for these patients was estimated to be $462.9 million, of which around $162.5 million may be associated with dementia.

Child protection Australia 2011-12

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report contains comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system. Key findings include:- Between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the number of children who were the subject of substantiations increased from 31,527 to 37,781 (an increase in the rate from 6.1 to 7.4 per 1,000 children).- There were 14,191 children admitted to orders during 2011-12; about two-fifths (39%) of these children had previously been admitted to an order. - The rate of children in out-of-home care at 30 June increased from 7.3 per 1,000 children in 2011 to 7.7 in 2012.

National core maternity indicators

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Healthy for life: results for July 2007-June 2011

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This is the first publicly released Healthy for Life report published since data collection and reporting began in 2007. Some key findings are that the average birthweight of babies at Healthy for Life services increased from 3,015 to 3,131 grams between the reporting periods ending in June 2008 and June 2011. Over the same period, the proportion of clients who had health assessments increased from 11.7% to 15.2% for those aged 15-54 and from 14.7% to 20.7% for those aged 55 and over. For clients aged 0-14, the proportion who had health assessments decreased slightly from 15.9% to 13.8%.

Australian hospital statistics: national emergency access and elective surgery targets 2012

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This report presents 2012 data for performance indicators related to emergency department lengths of stay of 4 hours or less and lengths of time spent waiting for elective surgery, specified in the National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services (NPA-IPHS). The AIHW has provided data in this report to the Council of Australian Governments Reform Council for them to determine state and territory performance against agreed targets under the NPA-IPHS.

Development of a prototype Australian mental health intervention classification: a working paper

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The prototype Mental Health Intervention Classification (MHIC) has been developed so that information on mental health interventions can be collected using a standard classification scheme. Adoption of the prototype will enable nationally comparable and consistent reporting of trends, patterns and best practice in the provision of mental health services.

A snapshot of juvenile arthritis

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This snapshot brings together the latest information on juvenile arthritis, a relatively uncommon condition affecting less than 1% of Australian children. Limited national statistics make it difficult to evaluate the full extent of the effects of this condition on the children and those who care for them. However, available data show that Australian Government subsidies for new classes of treatment medications have continually increased since their introduction in 2002-03 and hospitalisation rates for girls with juvenile arthritis have increased in the 10 years to 2009-10. The reasons for this latter increase are not yet clear.

Dental workforce 2011

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The number of dental practitioners registered in Australia in 2011 was 18,803, of whom 14,179 were dentists. The supply of employed dentists increased from 50.9 to 56.1 full-time equivalent practitioners per 100,000 population between 2006 and 2011, which reflected a 22.4% increase in dentists. The gender balance continued to shift, with women making up 35.6% of dentists in 2011 compared with 29.0% in 2006. The average hours worked each week by dentists decreased slightly from 38.5 to 37.4.

Medical workforce 2011

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:00:00 GMT

The supply of employed medical practitioners in Australia increased from 344.6 to 381.4 full-time equivalent practitioners per 100,000 population between 2007 and 2011, which reflected a 10.7% rise in practitioner numbers. The gender balance continued to shift, with women making up 37.6% of practitioners in 2011 compared with 34% in 2007. Specialists-in-training in the public sector worked the most average hours per week (47.6) while general practitioners in the public sector worked the least (20.5).

Australian hospital statistics 2011-12: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Australian public hospitals

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Juvenile detention population in Australia 2012

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report presents information on the juvenile detention population in Australia, focusing on quarterly trends from June 2008 to June 2012. On an average night, there were about 1,000 young people in detention, about half of whom were unsentenced. Numbers and rates of young people in detention remained relatively stable over the 4 years; however, the level of Indigenous over-representation increased, particularly in unsentenced detention.

Vaccination uptake among people with chronic respiratory disease

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Research has shown that vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal infection can benefit people with obstructive airways disease, which includes asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This report reviews the limited information available in Australia on how many people with asthma and COPD have the vaccination, and finds that the uptake rate is not as high as would be expected if recommendations were being followed.It presents a range of data improvement options that would enhance our ability to monitor vaccination uptake in this and other at-risk population groups.

Specialist Homelessness Services 2011-12

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

In 2011-12, specialist homelessness services assisted almost 230,000 clients, representing 1 in 98 Australians. Of these clients, 56% were at risk of homelessness, 44% were already homeless and 11% were sleeping without shelter or in improvised or inadequate shelter when they first began receiving support. Agencies provided more than 7,000,000 nights of accommodation in 2011-12 and assisted 84% of clients at risk of homelessness to sustain their tenancy. This report presents the findings of the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection for 2011-12, and describes the clients of specialist homelessness agencies, the assistance they sought and were provided, and outcomes achieved for clients.

Serious childhood community injury in New South Wales 2009-10

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report provides summary data on hospitalised injury of children and young people (aged 0-17 years) in New South Wales from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. During the 12 months, more than 23,000 children and young people were hospitalised as a result of an injury. Falls were the most commonly reported cause of hospitalised injury (39% of cases), and these frequently involved playground equipment. Transport injuries were also common (14%).

Adoptions Australia 2011-12

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Australia's mothers and babies 2010

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

In 2010, 294,814 women gave birth to 299,563 babies in Australia. The average age of mothers has increased gradually, from 29.2 years in 2001 to 30.0 years in 2010. The caesarean section rate has shown an upward trend over the last 10 years, increasing from 25.4% nationally in 2001 to a peak of 31.6% in 2010.

Australian hospital statistics 2011-12: emergency department care

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

In 2011-12: - there were more than 6.5 million presentations to public hospital emergency departments - 72% of patients received treatment within an appropriate time for their urgency (triage) category - almost two-thirds of patients stayed in the emergency department for 4 hours or less, and 90% had left within 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Hospitalised interpersonal violence and perpetrator coding, Australia 2002-05

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report describes episodes of hospitalised interpersonal violence in the 3 years (2002-03 to 2004-05) after the introduction of perpetrator coding in Australia in 2002. It also provides a technical demonstration of the type of analysis that is possible using perpetrator codes. During 2002-03 to 2004-05, 60,926 people were hospitalised and three-quarters of them were male. The most common reported type of interpersonal violence was Assault by bodily force, accounting for just over half of all cases (55%). Unspecified person was recorded as the perpetrator in 57% of cases aggregated over the 3 years.

Incontinence in Australia: prevalence, experience and cost

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This bulletin reports on the number of people who experienced severe incontinence in 2009, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers. It also presents information on prevalence rates and how much was spent on incontinence (excluding residential aged care costs) in 2008-09. There were an estimated 316,500 people suffering from severe incontinence in 2009, most of whom were female (66%). As well, 73% of primary carers who assisted in managing another person's incontinence spent at least 40 hours each week caring or supervising.

Cancer in Australia: in brief 2012

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

presents key points and trends from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's latest biennial report about cancer in Australia, .

Cancer in Australia: an overview 2012

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

presents the latest available information on incidence, mortality, survival, prevalence, burden of cancer, hospitalisations and national cancer screening programs. It is estimated that the most commonly diagnosed cancers in 2012 will be prostate cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer. For all cancers combined, the incidence rate increased by 12% from 1991 to 2009, but the mortality rate decreased and survival improved over time. Cancer outcomes differ by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, remoteness area and socioeconomic status.

Older people leaving hospital: a statistical overview of the Transition Care Program 2009-10 and 2010-11

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Older people leaving hospital: a statistical overview of the transition care program 2009-10 and 2010-11 presents key statistics about transition care services provided to older people directly after discharge from hospital. The Transition Care Program aims to improve recipients' independence and functioning, and has assisted nearly 52,000 people since it started in 2005-06, including 18,000 individuals who received just under 20,300 episodes of transition care in 2010-11. The report includes for the first time an analysis of trends since the program's establishment, and an examination of the final outcomes of people receiving consecutive episodes of care.

Maternal morbidity data in Australia: an assessment of the feasibility of standardised collection

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report presents the results of a review of current practices in maternal morbidity data collection. Definitions, data collection guidelines, validation and uses of the maternal morbidity data by jurisdictions are described. Further action is needed to standardise data collection.

Diabetes among young Australians

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Diabetes among young Australians is the first report from the National Centre for Monitoring Diabetes to examine the management and impact of diabetes in youth in Australia. Diabetes affects a considerable number of young people: in 2010, about 31,300 Australians aged 0-30 years with diabetes were registered with the National Diabetes Service Scheme. Most (79%) had Type 1 diabetes. This report explores how young Australians with diabetes are managing their condition, their use of health services and the diabetes-related health problems they experience.

Housing assistance in Australia 2012

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report looks at housing assistance in the government, not-for-profit and private sector segments in Australia in 2011-12. It examines allocation and waiting lists for social housing, overcrowding and housing affordability, and demonstrates that while the number of social housing dwellings has increased in recent years, this increase has been exceeded by the number of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Between 59% and 75% of all housing allocations are provided to people who are homeless, whose life or safety is at risk in their accommodation, whose condition is aggravated by their housing, or who has very high rental costs.

Hospital separations due to injury and poisoning, Australia 2009-10

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report is the eighth in a series on hospitalisations due to injury and poisoning in Australia, and covers the financial year 2009-10. A total of 421,065 injury cases required hospitalisation during the 12 months (242,478 males and 178,586 females). Overall rates of injury were higher among people aged 65 and over, and lower in children aged 0-14. The leading causes of hospitalised injury were unintentional falls (38% of cases), followed by transport accidents (13%).

People with dementia in hospitals in New South Wales 2006-07

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report examines the experiences of the 252,700 people aged 50 and over who stayed for at least one night in a New South Wales public hospital in 2006-07. Slightly more than 8% of patients (20,800 people) were identified as having dementia. Even allowing for age and sex differences, people with dementia had much higher hospitalisation rates than those without dementia: 26% compared with 12%. They also tended to stay longer in hospital and were more likely to enter or return to residential care on discharge from hospital, or to die in hospital.

Deriving key patient variables: a technical paper for the Hospital Dementia Services Project

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This report describes the methods used for the Hospital Dementia Services Project to derive dementia status, complete hospital stays and post-hospital destination using New South Wales hospital data for 2006-07. Comparisons of estimates using these key variables show that the method used to derive the variables can substantially affect analytical results on use of hospitals. This report demonstrates the importance of using analytical data and methods that match the particular policy or research question being asked.

Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: follow-up services for oral and ear health: final report, 2007-2012

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This is the final report for dental, audiology, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) services funded by the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative Closing the Gap program.More than 17,000 dental and 9,000 audiology services were provided between August 2007 and June 2012, and about 6,000 ENT services between August 2007 and December 2010. The majority of children who received a referral at their Child Health Check received the referred service, with follow-up rates of 94% for dental referrals, nearly 100% for audiology referrals and 97% for ENT referrals.