Other health research and data we use

We use a wide range of other research and data in our work, such as population health data. 

Health data and medical research provide evidence to help us develop policies and programs. 

Longitudinal population health studies

Longitudinal population health studies research the health of large groups of people over time. Research we use includes: 

• Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study 

• Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health 

• Australian Longitudinal Study on Men's Health (Ten to Men). 

Surveys

Surveys are a type of research that ask people questions about themselves. The results give insight into people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on health issues. Research we use includes: 

• ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 

• Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute Injury Studies 

• AIHW Burden of Disease study 

• ABS National Health Survey. 

Data collections

We use a wide range of data collections to develop health policies. Data collections we use include: 

• AIHW My Hospitals data, including 

  • Admitted patients  
  • National Public Hospital Establishment Database 
  • Elective surgery
  • Emergency department care 

• Practice Incentives Program and Service Incentive Payment statistics 

• Division of General Practice Statistics 

• PBS and MBS statistics on Services Australia (interrogable) 

• Australian Immunisation Register linked to the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project (AIR-MADIP). 

Registries

Clinical quality registries (CQRs) collect data on treatment and quality of life from patients, clinicians and hospitals. This is to develop standards of care and see if there are significant variations in care to address.  

This data improves the safety of patient treatment. It also supports good patient care and clinical improvement.  

We fund a range of CQRs that operate in a variety of domains. These include in trauma, orthopaedics and heart disease. 

Learn about our National Clinical Quality Registry Program.

Research centres we work with

Research centres collaborate to find new ways to treat and prevent health conditions. Research centres we work with include: 

• Kirby Institute 

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

• National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) 

• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) 

• AIHW National Centre for Monitoring Chronic Conditions 

• Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute Injury Studies

• National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health 

• Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry 

• Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) 

• Cancer Council Australia 

• Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum 

• Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG). 

International collaboration 

By working with other health organisations, we all have up-to-date data. Organisations we work with are: 

• Cochrane 

• World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza.