The 2011 Census of Population and Housing indicates that there are 172,625 Aboriginal people in NSW, with a median age of 21 years, compared with the national median age of 37 years for the whole population.  NSW has more Aboriginal people than any other State or Territory.

 

Compared with non-Aboriginal people, Aboriginal people have significantly poorer health across the life-cycle. Examples of indicators of poorer health include lower birth weight, higher rates of infant mortality, earlier onset of many chronic conditions, and lower life expectancy.

 

NSW Health has developed the Aboriginal Health Impact Statement and Guidelines as a tool that must be used by all NSW Health branches and agencies to ensure that the health needs and interests of Aboriginal people are embedded into the development, implementation and evaluation of all NSW Health initiatives. 

 

Within NSW Health, the Centre for Aboriginal Health is responsible for policy development and strategic planning to improve the health status of Aboriginal people in NSW. Further information may be found at:

Information on Aboriginal health, and NSW Health commitments, programs and initiatives to address the health issues of Aboriginal people may be found through the following links: