Deaths

Overview of deaths among Indigenous Australians

Our Overview of Australian Indigenous health draws largely on published information, some of which has been re-analysed to provide clearer comparisons between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It is updated as new information becomes available and includes a summary of deaths among Indigenous Australians.
(After viewing the overview return to this webpage by using the back button.)
View overview section: Mortality

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Key facts

What do we know about deaths among Indigenous people?

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Health promotion resources

National Palliative Care Program (2004)
Providing culturally appropriate palliative care to Indigenous Australians. Resource kit.
Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of its National Palliative Care Program, this resource kit has been developed to support the provision of palliative care to Indigenous patients, their families and communities, and to encourage service providers to examine their practice for cultural appropriateness. The kit is the result of direct consultation with palliative care providers and Indigenous people and communities throughout Australia. It contains a folder with information addressing: an introduction to the kit; practice principles; use of the resource; discussion paper; and course information. A CD-ROM is also included and contains additional information relating to cultural safety, cultural diversity, and practice examples.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

For further information about the resource kit or to obtain copies contact: Rural Health and Palliative Care Branch; Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing; GPO Box 9848; Canberra ACT 2601; ph: 1800 020 787; fax: (02) 6289 9295; website: http://www.caresearch.com.au/caresearch/WhatisPalliativeCare/NationalPalliativeCareProgram/IndigenousPalliativeCareProject/tabid/86/Default.aspx

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Journal articles

2008

Rowley KG, O'Dea K, Anderson I, McDermott R, Saraswati K, et al. (2008)
Lower than expected morbidity and mortality for an Australian Aboriginal population: 10-year follow-up in a decentralised community.
Medical Journal of Australia;188(5):283-287
View abstract: Medical Journal of Australia
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

2007

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (2007)
Alcohol attributable deaths among Indigenous Australians - National Drug Research Institute releases report
Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin;7(1):Current topic 3
View current topic: HealthBulletin

Hill K, Barker B, Vos T (2007)
Excess Indigenous mortality: are Indigenous Australians more severely disadvantaged than other Indigenous populations?
International Journal of Epidemiology ;36(3):580-900
View abstract: International Journal of Epidemiology
View website: Oxford Journals

Kariminia A, Butler TG, Corben SP, Levy M (2007)
Extreme cause-specific mortality in a cohort of adult prisoners 1988 to 2002: a data-linkage study.
International Journal of Epidemiology ;36(2):310-316
View abstract: PubMed
View website: National Center for Biotechnology Information

Wilson T, Condon JR, Barnes T (2007)
Northern Territory Indigenous life expectancy improvements, 1967-2004.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;31(2):184-188
View abstract: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
View website: Blackwell Synergy

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2006

Babidge S (2006)
Bodily connections and practising relatedness: Aboriginal family and funerals in rural North Queensland.
Anthropological Forum;16(1):55-71
View abstract: HealthBulletin

Clapham KF, Stevenson MR, Lo SK (2006)
Injury profiles of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in New South Wales.
Medical Journal of Australia;184(5):217-220
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 234KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Condon JR, Barnes T, Cunningham J, Armstrong BK (2006)
Long-term trends in cancer mortality for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory [correction].
Medical Journal of Australia;184(1):39
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 232KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Freemantle CJ, Read AW, de Klerk NH, McAullay D, Anderson IP, et al. (2006)
Patterns, trends, and increasing disparities in mortality for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants born in Western Australia, 1980-2001: population database study.
Lancet;367(9524):1758-1766
View abstract: HealthBulletin

Ming Ho K, Finn J, Dobb GJ, Webb SAR (2006)
The outcome of critically ill Indigenous patients.
Medical Journal of Australia;184(10):496-499
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View paper: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 282KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Parker E, Meiklejohn B, Patterson C, Edwards K, Preece C, et al. (2006)
Our games our health: a cultural asset for promoting health in Indigenous communities.
Health Promotion Journal of Australia;17(2):103-108
View abstract: Health Promotion Journal of Australia (HTML)
View website: Australian Health Promotion Association

Supramaniam R, Grindley H, Jackson Pulver L (2006)
Cancer mortality in Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia, 1994-2002.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;30(5):453-456
View abstract: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (HTML)
View website: Public Health Association of Australia

Zhao Y, Dempsey K (2006)
Causes of inequality in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, 1981-2000: a decomposition analysis.
Medical Journal of Australia;184(10):490-494
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 350KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

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2005

Brown A, Blashki G (2005)
Indigenous male health disadvantage: linking the heart and mind.
Australian Family Physician;34(10):813-819
View abstract: Australian Family Physician (HTML)
View article: Australian Family Physician (PDF - 218KB)

Calver J, Wiltshire A, D'Arcy C, Holman J, Hunter E, et al. (2005)
Does health assessment improve health outcomes in Indigenous people?: an RCT with 13 years of follow-up.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;29(2):107-111
View article: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (PDF - 42KB)
View website: Public Health Association of Australia

Condon JR, Armstrong BK, Barnes T, Zhao Y (2005)
Cancer incidence and survival for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;29(2):123-128
View article: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (PDF - 49KB)
View website: Public Health Association of Australia

Condon JR, Barnes T, Armstrong BK, Selva-Nayagam S, Elwood JM (2005)
Stage at diagnosis and cancer survival for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
Medical Journal of Australia;182(6):277-280
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 133KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Condon JR, Barnes T, Cunningham J, Armstrong BK (2004)
Long-term trends in cancer mortality for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
Medical Journal of Austalia;180(10):504-511
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Howitt R, McCracken K, Curson P (2005)
Australian Indigenous health - what issues contribute to a national crisis and scandal?
GeoDate;(March):8-15
View abstract: HealthBulletin

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2003

Chang AB, Masel JP, Boyce NC, Torzillo PJ (2003)
Respiratory morbidity in central Australian Aboriginal children with alveolar lobar abnormalities.
Medical Journal of Australia;178(10):490-494
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (HTML)
View article: Medical Journal of Australia (PDF - 148KB)
View website: Medical Journal of Australia

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Reports and other publications

2008

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008)
Causes of death Australia, 2006. (ABS Catalogue no. 3303.0)
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View report (PDF - 1.6MB - large file warning!)
View report (HTML)
View website: Australian Bureau of Statistics

2007

Andreasyan K, Hoy WE, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S (2007)
Indigenous mortality in remote Queensland, Australia.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;31(5):422-427
View abstract: ANZJPH
View website: Blackwell Synergy

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007)
Deaths Australia, 2006. (ABS catalogue no. 3302.0)
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View report (PDF - 1.8MB - large file warning!)
View report (HTML)
View website: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Vos T, Barker B, Stanley L, Lopez A (2007)
Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Summary Report.
Brisbane: Centre for Burden of Disease and Cost-Effectiveness, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
View report (PDF - 2.0MB - large file warning!)
View abstract
View website: Centre for Burden of Disease and Cost-Effectiveness

Vos T, Barker B, Stanley L, Lopez A (2007)
Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: 2003.
Brisbane: Centre for Burden of Disease and Cost-Effectiveness, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
View report (PDF - 6.1MB - large file warning!)
View abstract
View website: Centre for Burden of Disease and Cost-Effectiveness

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2006

Al-Yaman F, Van Doeland M, Wallis M (2006)
Family violence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (PDF - 560 KB)
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2006)
Australia's health 2006: the tenth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (AIHW Catalogue no. AUS 73) Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (HTML)
View section 4.5: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (PDF - 526KB)
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Joudo J (2006)
Deaths in custody in Australia 1990-2004.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (PDF - 270KB)
View website: Australian Institute of Criminology

Koori Human Services Unit (2006)
Koori health counts: information from the reports of Koori hospital liaison officers for 2004/05.
Melbourne: Department of Human Services
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (PDF - 2.2MB - large file warning!)
View website: Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria

Mathur S, Moon L, Leigh S (2006)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with coronary heart disease: further perspectives on health status and treatment.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (PDF - 365 KB)
View summary booklet (PDF - 155KB)
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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2004

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2004)
Experimental estimates and projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report: Australian Bureau of Statistcs (PDF - 1.8MB - large file warning!)
View website: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2004)
Australia's health 2004: the ninth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (PDF - 5.7MB - large file warning!)
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Condon JR, Barnes T, Cunningham J, Smith L (2004)
Improvements in Indigenous mortality in the Northern Territory over four decades.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health;28(5):445-451
View article: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (PDF - 60KB)
View website: Public Health Association of Australia

Helps YLM, Harrison JE (2004)
Reported injury mortality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, 1997-2000.
Adelaide: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (PDF - 1MB - large file warning!)
View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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2003

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2003)
Rural, regional and remote health: a study on mortality.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
View abstract: HealthBulletin

NSW Department of Health (2003)
The NSW Aboriginal perinatal health report.
Sydney: NSW Department of Health
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View report (PDF - 398KB)

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2002

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2002)
Australian social trends.
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View section on mortality and morbidity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
View report

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Theses

Hogg, R. (1991). Australian Aboriginal mortality and coronary heart disease: a demographic inquiry. Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Australian National University, Canberra.
Kile, E. (1995). Relationships between low birth weight, morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal people. Unpublished Bachelor of Medical Science thesis, Monash University, Melbourne.
Raymond, M. (1996). Aboriginal mortality in Western Australia 1983-1988: the influence of region, sex and year of death. Unpublished Master of Public Health thesis, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Weeramanthri, T. (1995). Out of sadness, hope - a cause of death validation study and public health audit of adult Aboriginal deaths in the Northern Territory. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Sydney, Sydney.
Wilkinson, C. (1995). Maternal death in New South Wales. 1982 to 1990. Unpublished Master of Public Health treatise, University of Sydney, Sydney.

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Last updated: 2 June 2008