Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a national priority. Find out what we’re doing to close the gap in health and life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience poorer health and die younger than other Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience much greater mortality and burden from chronic disease than non‑Indigenous Australians.
What we’re doing about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Closing the Gap is a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In an effort to meet the health targets of Closing the Gap, we fund a range of programs and initiatives. These include:
- Primary health care – we fund organisations, mostly Aboriginal community controlled health organisations (ACCHOs), to deliver Indigenous health services across Australia and support Indigenous health workers
- Better access to Medicare services
- Listings on the PBS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Closing the Gap PBS co-payment measure
- Extra immunisations for free under the National Immunisation Program
- Tackling Indigenous Smoking – this program aims to reduce the high rate of smoking amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Integrated team care – this program improves timely access to coordinated and multidisciplinary care for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic conditions
- Remote area health corps – this program addresses critical short-term workforce shortages in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory by recruiting urban-based health professionals for short-term work
- Funding activities that improve access to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Research to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Independent consultants regularly review our Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme to make sure it’s effective. Learn more about our evaluation program and read the first phase of reports.
We also provide support for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce to help them develop culturally appropriate health care.
Key policy framework
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023
This evidence-based framework is guiding our policy and program development until 2023 so that we can improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia.
Initiatives and programs
Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme
This program provides primary health care services across Australia to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Where possible these are delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Find out more about this program and what funding is available.
Resources
Tackling Indigenous Smoking program – final evaluation report
This report, completed in July 2018, evaluates how effective the program has been and whether it’s on target to achieve its long-term goals.
Health and medical services map
Use this interactive map to find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health Service near you.
Government agencies we work with
We work with other government agencies, including the National Indigenous Australians Agency to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.