Introduction

Every two years the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare releases the nation’s most comprehensive and authoritative source of statistics on welfare services. To mark the tenth report in the series, Australia’s welfare 2011 is accompanied by this companion booklet, introducing new readers to AIHW’s wide-reaching flagship publication.

Australia’s welfare in brief presents key comparisons and trends across the welfare sector, including those aspects that influence the demand for welfare services. We hope readers will be inspired to find out more by consulting Australia’s welfare 2011 or one of AIHW’s range of around 150 publications produced annually.