ABOUT THE NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY

The 2014-15 National Health Survey is the most recent in a series of Australia-wide health surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The survey was designed to collect a range of information about the health of Australians, including:

• prevalence of long-term health conditions;
• health risk factors such as smoking, overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption and exercise;
• use of health services such as consultations with health practitioners and actions people have recently taken for their health; and
• demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

The survey was conducted in all states and territories and across urban, rural and remote areas of Australia (other than very remote areas) from July 2014 to June 2015, and included around 19,000 people in nearly 15,000 private dwellings.

Previous surveys were conducted in 1989-90, 1995, 2001, 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2011-12. Health surveys conducted by the ABS in 1977-78 and 1983, while not part of the National Health Survey series, collected similar information.

This publication contains key results from the survey, including long-term health conditions, health risk factors and mental health and well-being. Information is presented for Australia and the states and territories.

Information on the use of health services, such as consultations with health practitioners, is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2016.