What do Australia’s health indicators show?

Indicators are simple statistics that summarise often complex issues. Australia’s health 2018 includes 41 indicators based on the Australian Health Performance Framework, reported across three domains (health status, determinants of health and the health system).

Trend assessment for selected indicators of Australia’s health
Health status
green tick Incidence of heart attacks
no trend Incidence of end-stage kidney disease
cross Hospitalisation for injury and poisoning 
green tick Severe or profound core activity limitation
Incidence of selected cancers:
no trend Lung cancer
green tick Bowel cancer
Life expectancy:
green tick Males
green tick Females
Determinants of health
green tick Adults who are daily smokers
green tick Adults at risk of long-term harm from alcohol
cross People who are overweight and obese
green tick Educational attainment
Health system
Immunisation rates (children):
green tick 1 year
green tick 2 years
green tick 5 years
no trend Potentially preventable hospitalisations
green tick Potentially avoidable deaths
cross Waiting time for elective surgery
no trend Waiting time for emergency department care

Legend:
green tick Favourable 10-year trend
cross Unfavourable 10-year trend
no trend No change over 10 years

For more information on each indicator and to view detailed data see the online data visualisation tool.

Find out more: Chapter 1.4 ‘Indicators of Australia’s health’ in Australia’s health 2018.