Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
49
Aboriginal Census
That proposals for a special national survey covering a range of social, demographic, health and economic characteristics of the Aboriginal population with full Aboriginal participation at all levels be supported. The proposed census should take as its boundaries the ATSIC boundaries. The Aboriginal respondents to the census should be encouraged to nominate their traditional/contemporary language affiliation. I further recommend that the ATSIC Regional Councils be encouraged to use the special census to obtain an inventory of community infrastructure, assets and outstanding needs which can be used as data for the development of their regional plans.
The first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey was carried out in 1994, so there's now 20 years of detailed data available for us to look at and discuss. This survey is not just about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it’s for us. We need this information to make sure that we are getting things right - we need to feel confident that our issues are accurately reflected in government policies, programs, and services.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Assessment
The intent of Recommendation 49 was to ensure that data collection processes meaningfully reflect the lived realities of Aboriginal peoples, with full participation at all levels of survey design, development, and implementation.
While national Aboriginal surveys—covering social, health, nutrition, and physical activity —provide a broad evidence base to support policy and service responses, the intent of full Aboriginal participation has not been fully realised. Some outcomes are evident through the availability of published data and the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) acknowledgement of the importance of Aboriginal involvement in survey design and delivery, but Aboriginal leadership and governance in survey oversight remains limited.
Although the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission no longer exists, the principle of Aboriginal involvement outlined in the recommendation is still relevant and necessary.
Priority for Further Work:
Low
Relevance and potential impact | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low (0-2) | Moderate (3-4) | High (5-6) | |||
Extent of action taken and evidence of outcomes | High (5-6) | ||||
Moderate (3-4) | |||||
Low (0-2) | |||||
Background
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) emphasised much of the knowledge of Aboriginal society that is derived from social indicators comes as a by-product of data collected for administrative purposes. The RCIADIC highlighted the value of and need for a special national survey covering a range of social, health, demographic, and economic characteristics of the Aboriginal population.
At that time, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) had raised the possibility of conducting such a survey. The Commissioners were supportive of this proposal, noting that ‘it should be conducted with full Aboriginal participation at all levels’.
Actions Taken Since Last Review
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The ABS conducts dedicated surveys for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, covering areas like health, culture, education, and employment, across both urban and remote communities.
The data gathered supports the planning, delivery, and evaluation of programs and services, informs progress on Closing the Gap targets, and provides insight into community wellbeing.
These surveys rely on strong community participation to produce comprehensive and meaningful information.
There is increasing demand for higher quality data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to inform key policy initiatives such as Closing the Gap, and to better fulfil ABS’ commitment to return information to the community. We are dedicated to early and ongoing conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to increase the participation in, and relevance of, our statistical collections.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)
The NATSISS was first collected in 2002 as a follow on from the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey. It gathers detailed information on the social and cultural experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The most recent survey in 2014–15 collected data from 11,178 participants across Australia on topics such as language, culture, wellbeing, health, education, employment, justice, housing, and life stressors.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
The NATSIHS was first collected in 1995, and then again in 2004–5, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2023.
The 2018–19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) collected data on long-term health conditions, healthcare use, physical measurements (including hearing tests), and risk factors like diet, exercise, smoking, and substance use. For the first time, it included data on mental health conditions, medications, sugary drink consumption, and physical harm.
This information helps improve health services and programs, aiming to better support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
The NATSINPAS, first conducted in 2012–13, collects data on diet and physical activity. It covers topics such as food and drink consumption, exercise, sedentary behaviour, sleep, and selected long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.
The NATSINPAS most recently visited communities across the country throughout 2023 as part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study.
Impact
Outputs
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey, conducted by the ABS in 1994, was the first nationwide survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It was carried out in response to Recommendation 49.
The ABS has delivered several national, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander–specific surveys since then. These surveys cover a wide range of topics such as health, culture, education, employment, justice, and wellbeing. Survey content has been informed by consultation with expert advisory panels, government and non-government stakeholders, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies. Where possible, local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisors have supported data collection in communities.
Outcomes
Targeted surveys have strengthened the evidence base available to inform programs, policy, and service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The data collected has been used to monitor social and health outcomes, inform service design, and assess progress against national priorities such as the Closing the Gap targets. Improvements in survey content, such as the inclusion of new mental health and harm-related measures, reflect responsiveness to stakeholder engagement. While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander input has increased, the level of leadership and representation in survey governance structures is not consistently clear. Nonetheless, the surveys have contributed to greater visibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experiences in national datasets.
Community Views
Professor Tom Calma
The first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey was carried out in 1994, so there's now 20 years of detailed data available for us to look at and discuss. This survey is not just about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it’s for us. We need this information to make sure that we are getting things right - we need to feel confident that our issues are accurately reflected in government policies, programs, and services.
Dr Maggie Walter
From an Indigenous stakeholder point of view, the institutional understanding of Aboriginal and Torres interests, perspectives and life experiences still appear very limited and, in particular, that in 2013 (as in 2003) the ABS did not employ any Indigenous people in the team working on NATSISS.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, despite roundtables and consultation, remain largely marginalised from the design, production and use of the NATSISS data" and that "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders need to be intimately involved in all aspects of planning, developing, designing, implementing and analysis of NATSISS; in terms of working directly on the survey within the ABS and in guiding its design, development, implementation and interpretation of results