This report summarises the latest information on health outcomes, health system performance and the broader determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people, drawing from the Health Performance Framework (HPF) measures. 

The HPF shows improvements in some aspects of First Nations people’s health and social determinants, while other aspects have either not improved or worsened.

Across the HPF measures, in the last decade or so, there have been improvements in health-related measures such as smoking (including during pregnancy), attendance at antenatal care, immunisation, health assessments, chronic disease management, early detection and early treatment, deaths from cardiovascular and kidney diseases, and self-discharge from hospital. Social determinants such as Year 12 attainment, employment and home ownership, and youth detention have also improved.

However, there has been little or no progress in some measures, while some others have worsened. For example, key measures such as infant and child mortality, perinatal mortality, diabetes mortality, avoidable mortality and potentially preventable hospitalisations have shown little or no progress; while measures of suicide, death from cancer, female hospitalisation for assault, children in out-of-home care, and adult imprisonments have all worsened.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework
Starting in 2006, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework (HPF) reports have provided information about health outcomes, key drivers of health and the performance of the health system for First Nations people.

The HPF was designed, in consultation with First Nations stakeholder groups, to promote accountability, inform policy and research, and foster informed debate about the health of First Nations people. The HPF also provides information to support progressive improvements in national goals and targets. 

The HPF is made up of 68 measures across 3 levels, or tiers:

Tier 1: Health status and outcomes
Tier 2: Determinants of health
Tier 3: Health system performance

Structure of this report
Section 1 ‘Introduction’ presents the background to, and purpose of, the HPF.
Section 2 ‘Demographic and social context’ presents an overview of the broader social and policy context to the health of First Nations people.
Section 3 ‘How First Nations people are faring’ presents a summary of key findings from the 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HPF.
Section 4 ‘Tier 1 – Health status and outcomes’ presents key findings from Tier 1 of the HPF.
Section 5 ‘Tier 2 – Determinants of health’ presents key findings from Tier 2 of the HPF.
Section 6 ‘Tier 3 – Health system performance’ presents key findings from Tier 3 of the HPF.
Section 7 ‘Additional information’ provides information about where to find more detailed data and related information (such as data source information).
Section 8 ‘References’ provides a list of references used in the Summary report.