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Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Community Insights
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Health services

In 2020–21, 27% (236,610) Indigenous Australians had an Indigenous-specific health check
Improving cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care users can improve access to and the quality of health care
Between 2013 and 2020, across all remoteness areas, the number and rate of Indigenous Australians in the health workforce increased

Wayne Quilliam Photography

High-quality primary health care can contribute to improved health and wellbeing by improving health literacy and the self-management of chronic disease, and by improving screening and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. For Indigenous Australians, it is essential health services are accessible, responsive and culturally respectful and safe (Dudgeon et al. 2014; Griew et al. 2008).

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face barriers to accessing needed health services, such as a lack of local services, or being unable to afford services.

Key facts
7,049

Indigenous Australians were employed in registered health professions in 2020

92,019

Hospitalisations (excluding those for dialysis) for Indigenous Australians from July 2017 to June 2019 that were potentially preventable

71%

Of Indigenous Australian women who gave birth in 2020 attended antenatal care in the first trimester

32%

Of the 243,663 Indigenous Australians who did not access health services when required, indicated this was due to cultural reasons, such as language problems, discrimination and cultural appropriateness

Number of Indigenous Australians receiving MBS Indigenous-specific health checks, 2020–21
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