Anne Magarey, PHC RIS
 Australia's Health 2006 is the 10th annual report on the health of Australians. The report indicates that our international health ranking is high and has risen over the past 10 years and that we are generally a pretty healthy lot: we are among the top five nations in the world for life expectancy.
Snippets from the report
Cardiovascular disease and cancer death rates have declined, although cancer is our leading cause of death for those aged 45-64. The leading cause of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury is mental ill health, causing an estimated one eighth of the total burden of disease in 2003. However, suicide rates have declined; for both males and females the rate was one of the lowest recorded since 1907. Obesity and diabetes are becoming rapidly more prevalent.
The health of Indigenous Australians remains much worse than that of other Australians, despite falling death rates in Western Australia and declining infant mortality rates between 1991 and 2003.
For example:
- Approximately 70% of Indigenous Australians die before reaching 65 years of age (20% for other Australians).
- Compared with other Australians
- Death rates for Indigenous infants are about three times higher; and
- Death rates for Indigenous children are two-three times higher.
Australians from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas still have poorer health and higher death rates (particularly males and infants) than socioeconomically advantaged Australians.
One in 17 of all employed Australians were in the health workforce in 2005. Whereas all occupations have experienced a growth of 11% since 2000, the health workforce has increased by 26%. There has been an increase in health service use, with medical services use increasing by 4% in one year, and prescriptions for medications increasing by 41% over 10 years.
The report gives a detailed, authoritative account of all aspects of the health of Australians as well as of changes over time. All those interested in any aspect of health will find something useful within its pages.
It is available from the AIHW website, for downloading (a very large PDF file) or purchase. See http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10321 for further information.
Reference:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006. Australia's Health 2006. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
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