| Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council |
The Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) is the advisory and support body to the COAG Health Council. It operates to deliver health services more efficiently through a coordinated or joint approach on matters of mutual interest. The AHMAC is responsible for providing effective and efficient support to the COAG Health Council by advising on strategic issues relating to the coordination of health services across the nation and, as applicable, with New Zealand and operating as a national forum for planning, information sharing and innovation. |
| Australian Associated Press |
An Australian news agency. |
| COAG |
The Council of Australian Governments is the peak intergovernmental forum in Australia, comprising the Prime Minister, state premiers, territory chief ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. See Council of Australian Governments for more information. |
| data linkage |
The bringing together (linking) of information from 2 or more different data sources that are believed to relate to the same entity—for example, the same individual or the same institution. This can provide more information about the entity and, in certain cases, can provide a time sequence, helping to tell a story, show ‘pathways’ and perhaps unravel cause and effect. The term is used synonymously with ‘data integration’ and ‘record linkage’. |
| energy consumption |
The amount of energy used. Energy consumption can be measured, for example, in kilowatt hours, megajoules or gigajoules. |
| Energy Star |
An international standard/program for energy-efficient electronic equipment. In Australia, the program applies to office equipment and home entertainment products. Australian Government policy for the procurement of office equipment requires departments and agencies to purchase only office equipment that complies with the ‘Energy Star’ standard, where it is available and fit for purpose. A key feature of Energy Star compliance is that the associated equipment will have power management features allowing it to meet a minimum energy performance standard. |
| financial results |
The results shown in the financial statements of this AIHW annual report. |
| full-time equivalent (staff numbers) |
A standard measure of the number of workers in an organisation, profession or occupation that also takes into account the number of hours each person works. During 2017–18, AIHW staff members considered full-time were committed to working 37 hours and 5 minutes per week. |
| GreenPower |
An energy product purchased from an Australian Government accredited energy provider that supplies renewable energy. |
| indicator |
A key statistical measure selected to help describe (indicate) a situation concisely, to track change, progress and performance, and to act as a guide to decision making. |
| Indigenous (person) |
A person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. |
| Indigenous status (of a person) |
Whether a person identifies as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. |
| Infographics |
Infographics present complex information in a way that is visually stimulating and easily understandable. We produce infographics, posters and report profiles to highlight key information from our reports, which can be used as education resources. |
| metadata |
Information that describes data in relation to their structure, organisation and content. |
| METeOR |
METeOR is Australia’s repository for national metadata standards for the health, community services and housing assistance sectors. It operates as a metadata registry—a system or application where metadata are stored, managed and disseminated—based on the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission’s ISO/IEC 11179 international standard. METeOR was developed by the AIHW and provides users with a suite of features and tools, including online access to a wide range of nationally endorsed data definitions, and tools for creating new definitions based on existing already-endorsed components. Through METeOR, users can find, view and download data standards, and develop new ones. |
| National Australian Built Environment Rating System |
A performance-based rating system for existing buildings. It rates a commercial office, hotel or residential building on the basis of its measured operational impacts on the environment. National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) ratings for offices include NABERS Energy (previously the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating), NABERS Water, NABERS Waste and NABERS Indoor Environment. The NABERS is a rating of a building’s energy efficiency that takes into account consumption of electricity, gas and other products like fuels. The rating can be used to benchmark the greenhouse performance of office premises. The Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency in Government Operations Policy advises that this rating scheme is suitable as an energy performance measurement tool for office buildings. The ratings scheme is also known as NABERS Office Energy. |
| national minimum data set |
A minimum set of data elements agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at national level. |
| outcome (health outcome) |
A health-related change due to a preventive or clinical intervention or service. The intervention may be single or multiple, and the outcome may relate to a person, group or population, and may be partly or wholly due to the intervention. |
| outcomes (of the AIHW) |
The results, impacts or consequences of actions by the Australian Government public sector on the Australian community. This may include proposed or intended results, impacts or consequences of actions. |
| outputs |
Goods or services produced by the AIHW for external organisations or individuals, including goods or services produced for areas of the Australian public sector external to the AIHW. |
| performance indicators (of the AIHW) |
Measures that relate to the AIHW’s effectiveness in achieving the Australian Government’s objectives. |
| performance indicators (of the health system) |
Measures that relate to the health system as a whole or to parts of it, such as hospitals and health centres. The measures include accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability, responsiveness, continuity of care, and safety. |
| Portfolio Budget Statements |
Statements prepared by Australian Government portfolios to explain the Budget appropriations in terms of outputs and outcomes. The AIHW contributes to the statements of the Health portfolio, usually published in May each year. |
