Health services
To determine whether the health system is meeting the needs of Indigenous Australians aged 15–24, it is important to understand access to and use of health services. This section outlines the availability and use of health services.
Health service availability
In 2018–19, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15–24, 85% (131,700) had access to a doctor (other than Aboriginal Medical Services) in their local area.
The health service available to most Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 in non-remote areas (92% or 119,300) was doctor/General Practitioner (GP) (other than from Aboriginal Medical Service). Aboriginal Medical Service was the health service available to most Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 in remote areas (89% or 23,300) (Figure AY 30).
Health service use
In 2018–19 among Indigenous Australians aged 15–24:
- 33% (50,700) used a health service in the last 2 weeks.
- GP services (17% or 26,500) were the most common type of health service used (Figure AY 31).
Health checks
In 2018–19, among Indigenous Australians aged 15–24:
- 23% (37,745) had an Indigenous-specific health check
- Indigenous females (28% or 21,712) were more likely to have a health check than Indigenous males (19% or 16,033) (Figure AY 32).
Hospitalisations
In 2016–17, the hospitalisation rate (including dialysis) for Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 was 276 per 1,000 population (43,202). Of these hospitalisations, 28% (11,890) were related to pregnancy, childbirth or post-childbirth care and 4% (1,576) were for care involving dialysis.
The most common reasons for hospitalisation for Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 were:
- injury and poisoning (44 per 1,000 population or 6,863 hospitalisations).
- mental and behavioural disorders (28 per 1,000 population or 4,427 hospitalisations).
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings (21 per 1,000 population or 3,326) hospitalisation (Figure AY 33).