OSR – clients

In 2022–23, organisations saw around 507,000 clients (Figure 1). The number of clients decreased by 16% between 2021–2022 and 2022–23. This was mostly a result of the large (50%) decrease in the number of non-Indigenous clients and likely reflects the jump in non-Indigenous clients seeking COVID-related services in 2021–22 followed by a return to a more ‘normal’ service provision the following year. For more information on the impact of COVID-19 see Related material.

Clients

Clients refers to how many individuals receive health care from an organisation during the collection period. Each individual is counted as a client once only within an organisation, regardless of how many times they are seen. Visitors and transient clients are included in client counts, but clients attending group activities only (and who do not receive individual care) are excluded. 

A client may attend more than one organisation. The extent this occurs is not known and is not adjusted for.


Figure 1: Client numbers by reporting period

Client numbers by reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the number of clients for reporting periods 2018–19 to 2022–23 and either:

  • type of organisation (ACCHO, non-ACCHO)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote)
  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT)
  • First Nations status (First Nations, non-Indigenous, unknown)
  • sex (male, female, unknown).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Note: For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

Of clients:

  • 86% (or around 438,000) were seen by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
  • 24% (or around 123,000) were seen in Major cities, 21% (107,000) in Inner regional areas, 21% (106,000) in Outer regional areas, 17% (88,500) in Remote and 16% (82,500) in Very remote areas
  • 54% (or around 273,000) were female
  • 82% (or around 414,000) were First Nations people
  • 56% (or around 286,000) were aged under 35.

ACCHOs and non-ACCHOs both generally saw:

  • a higher proportion of female than male clients (around 54% in both types of organisation were female)
  • a higher proportion of First Nations clients (82% in ACCHOs and 80% in non-ACCHOs) than non-Indigenous clients (around 17% in both).

The age profile of clients attending ACCHOs was generally younger than those attending non-ACCHOs, with 57% of clients of ACCHOs being aged under 35 compared with 52% in non-ACCHOs.

In 2022–23, around 46% (414,000) of the estimated resident First Nations population (905,000) were First Nations clients of organisations reporting to the OSR collection (Figure 2).

Figure 2: First Nations clients compared with estimated resident First Nations population by state/territory and reporting period

First Nations clients compared to estimated resident First Nations population by state/territory

This Tableau visualisation shows the number of First Nations clients compared with the estimated First Nations population (First Nations ERP). Reporting periods between 2018–19 to 2022–23 can be selected.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In some cases clients may be counted at more than one organisation. The number of First Nations clients being greater than the First Nations ERP is most common in Remote and Very remote areas.
  2. ERP is at 31 December of the relevant reporting period. Population projections for the period 2018–19 to 2022–23 are based on the 2016 Census of Population and Housing. The ERP may vary from that used for the nKPI collection because of differences in reporting periods.
  3. Total is the sum of the states and territories and does not include external territories.
  4. For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

For more information on clients see Data.

Reference

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2019) Estimates and Projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006 to 2031 [Series B projections], ABS cat. no. 3238.0, ABS, Australian Government, accessed 12 October 2023.