Australian Indigenous

This section of the Bulletin identifies recent reports and publications, including book chapters. If you are aware of material that would be appropriate for inclusion in this section please contact us.

• Aboriginal Services Plan key indicators 2003-04 added 1 August 2005
• Expenditures on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2001-02 added 27 July 2005
• Health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2005 added 29 August 2005
• Indigenous disability data inventory added 1 July 2005
• Indigenous housing indicators 2003–04 added 1 July 2005
• Land rights and development reform in remote Australia added 19 September
• Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2005: report added 19 July 2005
• The health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians added 1 July 2005
  
  

Altman J, Linkhorn C, Clarke J (2005)
Land rights and development reform in remote Australia.
Melbourne: Oxfam Australia

Oxfam Australia commissioned the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) to investigate the extent to which converting communal ownership of Aboriginal land to individual ownership is likely to promote economic development on Aboriginal lands and generate better housing outcomes. Land rights reform has been the subject of recent Indigenous policy debate, and CAEPR examined this issue through a literature-based case study focusing on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory and the current Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) (the 'ALRA').

The report finds no evidence to suggest that individual ownership of land is either necessary or sufficient to increase economic development or address housing needs in remote Aboriginal communities. Rather, the principle concerns for Indigenous land policy development continue to be related to poverty and the significant lack of services, housing and infrastructure. Issues include:

• remoteness of communities from mainstream markets;
• low populations and population densities;
• need for greater investment in education and vocational skills; and
• poor infrastructure.

The research confirms that the current ALRA framework has the capacity to meet Indigenous housing and economic development objectives, but is hindered by excessive government involvement in the decision-making process over land development. The report suggests options for both limiting government power and enhancing the capacity of Aboriginal land owners to obtain and utilise the benefits generated by land development.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF) is available on the Oxfam Australia website. For further information contact: Oxfam Australia, 156 George Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065. email: IndigenousAdvocacy@oxfam.org.au, ph: (03) 9289 9444.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2005.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics

This major report presents a broad national picture of the health and welfare of the Indigenous population and explores the disparities in health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Topics covered include:

• the demographic, social and economic context
• education and health
• housing circumstances
• disability and ageing
• mothers and children
• health status
• health risk factors
• mortality
• health services – provision, access and use
• community services
• Torres Strait Islander people

The findings of the report demonstrate that the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains poor compared with the rest of the Australian population and they experience many disadvantages. Changes over time in the health and welfare outcomes for Indigenous people have been described where possible. Life expectancy among Indigenous men and women remains approximately 17 years less than among their non-Indigenous counterparts, but some health improvements have been noted. Declines were identified in Indigenous mortality rates in Western Australia and in infant mortality rates in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. There have also been improvements in some of the social determinants of health, particularly in education and employment outcomes.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Details of how to obtain the report (PDF - 5.22MB - large file warning!) and sections of the report (HTML) are available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare websites. For further information contact the Australian Bureau of Statistics, ph: 02 6252 5249, fax: 02 6252 6778, email: client.services@abs.gov.au

For further information view current topic

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Expenditures on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2001-02.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This report on health service expenditure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is the third in a series of reports which are produced every three years. It details government and non-government expenditure and funding for the 2001–02 financial year, with descriptions of changes since 1995. Separate data are provided for state and territory government expenditure, expenditure on health-related welfare services and analysis of regional expenditure.

The findings of the report are related to: the context of Indigenous health; the fact that many Indigenous people live in remote and rural areas; and the relatively low usage by Indigenous people of private health services, Medicare, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The estimated expenditure on health services for Indigenous people rose from $1.4 billion between 1998-99 to $1.8 billion in 2001-02 with the share of national health spending going to Indigenous people increasing from 2.6% to 2.8%. In 2001-02 health spending on Indigenous people per person was $3,901 compared with $3,308 for non-Indigenous people, reflecting the greater costs for delivery of services in remote regions (although the types of services accessed typically involve lower costs). Although estimates of average expenditures per person for Indigenous Australians have increased in real terms (16.9%) since the previous report, this is lower than the increase for non-Indigenous people (18.8%) over the same period. The 2001-02 ratio of Indigenous to non-Indigenous estimated expenditures (1.18:1) is marginally lower than in 1998–99 (1.22:1) [HealthInfoNet note: The ratios for 1998-99 and 2001-02 are not directly comparable. This is because the ratio for 1998-99 has not been revised in line with the higher Indigenous population figures derived from the 2001 Census of Housing and Population]. The main conclusion regarding expenditure on health for Indigenous peoples is that their relative position compared with non-Indigenous people has changed little since the previous report for 1998–99. The report makes a number of recommendations for improving future studies of health expenditure.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 482KB) is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Indigenous disability data inventory.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This inventory provides a list of publications and other information on disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. These sources, which have led to or have the potential to contribute to improvements in national disability data, provide data concerning Indigenous people with a disability, or information regarding Indigenous data development issues. Some sources also consider the various ways disability is conceptualised by Indigenous people. The information is grouped under the headings: general statistics and population data; administrative data; data development and concepts; quality and reporting of Indigenous data; and policy related reports. Web addresses are provided to online publications or sources, and an Endnote library provides an index for all the resources. The inventory and the Endnote library will be updated periodically and future additions will include international information sources and further web-based information.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 178KB) and an Endnote index of references are available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Indigenous housing indicators 2003–04.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This is the first AIHW Indigenous housing indicator based report and includes data collected from states and territories and from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS). The information was compiled by the AIHW for the National Reporting Framework for Indigenous Housing (NRF) which includes 38 indicators. In the report the NRF indicators are grouped according to seven outcome areas from the Building a Better Future: Indigenous housing to 2010 (BBF), a 10-year statement of new directions for Indigenous housing. In the BBF it was recognised that Indigenous housing was a major issue requiring priority action and it was necessary to improve housing and environmental health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Recommendations include: identifying and addressing outstanding need; improving the viability of Indigenous community housing organisations; establishing safe, healthy and sustainable housing for Indigenous people (especially in rural and remote communities); and establishing a national framework for the development and delivery of improved housing outcomes for Indigenous people by state, territory and community housing providers. A summary of major findings in this report describes rental housing; home ownership; Indigenous specific housing; housing management; household services; homelessness; overcrowding and community consultation.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 563KB) is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.

Booth A, Carroll N (2005)
The health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Canberra: Australian National University, Centre of Economic Policy Research

The reasons behind the differences in health status between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are explored in this report. This in depth analysis of the 2001 National Health Survey examines social determinants, access to health services, and health behaviours. It was found that between one third and one half of the health gap could be explained by differences in socio-economic status such as income, employment status, and education. Other suggested reasons included cultural issues relating to health behaviour, the availability of health services, and historical events that have led to differences in health behaviour across groups but are unrelated to socio-economic status.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 523KB) is available on the Australian National University, Centre of Economic Policy Research website. For further information contact: Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Social Sciences, Coombs Building 9, Fellows Road, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, email: cepr@anu.edu.au, ph: (02) 6125 2118, fax: (02) 6125 0182.

Koori Human Services Unit (2005)
Aboriginal Services Plan key indicators 2003-04.
Melbourne: Koori Human Services Unit, Policy and Strategic Projects Division, Victorian Government

The objective of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Aboriginal Services Plan is to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in Victoria by better focussing departmental resources. The Plan relates to the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage key indicators framework. DHS responsibility includes the funding or delivery of a range of health, housing, aged care and community services including disability and children’s services, this report details the five identified main strategic action areas:

• Early childhood development and growth
• Early school engagement and performance - kindergarten to year 3
• Positive childhood and transition into adulthood
• Substance use and misuse
• Functional and resilient families and communities

For each action area there is a summary of current status, key indicators, proposed actions and budget initiatives where applicable.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 673KB) is available on the Victorian Koori Health website. For more information contact: Koori Human Services Unit, Department of Human Services, 5/555 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000, ph: (03) 9616 7032, email: koori@dhs.vic.gov.au

Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth Service Provision (2005)
Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2005: report.
Canberra: Productivity Commission

The Council of Australian Governments has commissioned the Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth Service Provision to provide regular reports against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage. The aims are to inform Australian governments about whether policy programs and interventions are achieving positive outcomes for Indigenous people and to identify where further work is needed.

This is the second report produced by the Steering Committee. It documents the indicator framework and reports on various indicators of Indigenous disadvantage and seven strategic areas for action:

• early childhood development and growth;
• early school engagement and performance;
• positive childhood and transition to adulthood;
• substance use and misuse;
• functional and resilient families and communities;
• effective environmental health systems; and
• economic participation and development.

The report documents some improvements in indicators since the last report in 2003 (although caution is needed in some data comparisons), but for many indicators there has been little or no movement. The Steering Committee will continue to document the development of the indicator framework, and produce a regular report against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage as part of the process of continuing improvement.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (HTML) and the overview (PDF - 2.1 MB - large file warning!) are available on the Australian Government Productivity Commission website. For further information contact: Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, Level 28, 35 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, C/- Productivity Commission, Locked Bag 2 Collins Street, East Melbourne VIC 8003, ph: (03) 9653 2100, fax (03) 9653 2199.

Last updated: 25 July, 2006