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Closing the Gap: guide to data specifications for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey

A guide to how data items from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey are used to report against Closing the Gap targets

Released

26/11/2024

Source

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2022-23 financial year

About Closing the Gap

The  National Agreement on Closing the Gap includes 19 national targets across 17 associated outcomes. It is based on four Priority Reforms  that change how governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

Progress on the 17 national targets is monitored by the Productivity Commission and available in the Implementation Tracker | Closing the Gap. The Information Repository includes a data dashboard with the latest information on the targets and indicators, as well as an annual data report.

The 2022–23 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) is one of many sources used to report progress against the targets and their indicators. This guide only includes targets where NATSIHS is the identified source.

How to use this guide

This guide does not provide any data. It explains how various Closing the Gap indicators use data from the NATSIHS, including any inclusions/exclusions or grouping of categories within a data item that have been applied. This information will assist users in creating custom NATSIHS data that matches the specifications of these indicators when using the ABS TableBuilder product.

The 2022–23 NATSIHS data items and other supporting information such as the applicable populations and comparability with other ABS surveys, including the 2018–19 NATSIHS, can be found in the detailed index tab of the Data Item List located in the Data Downloads section on this page.

Further information around definitions and concepts, collection method and comparability with earlier iterations of the NATSIHS can be found on the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.

For information on more general statistical terms and concepts, see Statistical terms and concepts.

Terms and definitions

This guide refers to targets, indicators and measures as defined by the Productivity Commission.

Targets are specific and measurable goals for each of the outcome areas.
Indicators represent the concepts, experiences, or activities that are being measured, including for each of the targets.
Contextual information indicators provide insight into the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under each socioeconomic outcome.
Drivers indicators measure those factors that significantly impact the progress made against a socioeconomic target.
Measures are a more detailed expression of an indicator and move us from the concept to a concrete understanding of what that concept means. Measures allow us to create or locate the right data sets to measure the indicator concept.

How to access the data

Selected data for the data items mentioned in this guide can be accessed from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples statistics page. Published data should be compared with caution. Please check footnotes and table specifications to ensure items are comparable with the Closing the Gap indicators – for example, age groups or remoteness areas used may or may not exactly match the indicator specifications.

Data collected in the 2022–23 NATSIHS will be available in TableBuilder scheduled for release via the ABS website in the first half of 2025. This product allow users to choose a topic and create custom tables.

Custom data can also be requested via an ABS consultancy, which is a paid service. For more information, see  Consultancy Request Form.

Non-Indigenous comparisons

The ABS supports a strengths-based approach when disseminating data about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

However, the ABS acknowledges some users may want to compare the NATSIHS data for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population with data for the non-Indigenous population from other surveys, such as the National Health Survey.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has a younger age structure than the non-Indigenous population. Age is strongly related to many population characteristics, such as long-term health conditions and employment patterns. To account for this, the ABS uses a technique called age standardisation to produce proportions that can be used for comparison purposes. Age standardised estimates of prevalence are those rates that ‘would have occurred’ should both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations have the same age composition.

The ABS recommends any comparisons between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and the non-Indigenous population for characteristics which are associated with age are done using age standardised estimates. Age standardised estimates are not required when making comparisons by age group (for example, 18–24 years).

Age standardised estimates can be produced on request by the ABS as a paid consultancy – see Consultancy request form for more information.

Socioeconomic outcome areas

Disaggregation

Classification
Disaggregation	2022–23 NATSIHS Data Items
Indigenous status	Indigenous status – INDGSTAT Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Response categories 1 to 3
State and Territory	Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, July 2021– June 2026 – STATE21
Age	Age of persons in single years – AGESGL

Target 1: Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031

Driver: Prevalence rates of health risk factors
Measure	2022–23 NATSIHS Data Item	Other data specifications
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who smoke daily	Smoker status (SMKSTAT) Numerator: Current daily smoker – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1 to 5 Excludes response categories 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who reported lifetime risky alcohol consumption (a)	Lifetime alcohol risk level - 7 day average (2009 guidelines) (ALCLTR7D) Numerator: Exceeded guidelines – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1 to 9 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who reported they had recently used an illicit substance	Whether used substances for non-medical purposes in the last 12 months (SUBUSEYR) Numerator: Has used substances – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1, 2, 8 and 9 Excludes response categories 0 and 7.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over who agreed to being asked the substance use questions. Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who are overweight or obese (b)	Body mass index - measured - categories (half years scale for all ages) (BMICATHY) Numerator: Overweight/obese – response categories 6 to 9 Denominator: Includes response categories 1 to 9 and 99 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who reported adequate daily vegetable intake (c)	Whether vegetable consumption met recommended guidelines (2013 NHMRC guidelines) (RDIVEG) Numerator: Has met vegetable guidelines – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1, 5 and 9 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who reported adequate daily fruit intake (c)	Whether fruit consumption met recommended guidelines (2013 NHMRC guidelines) (RDIFRUIT) Numerator: Has met fruit guidelines – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1, 5 and 9 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over who reported sufficient daily activity (d)	Physical activity Guidelines 2014, 15+ yrs. (Non-remote areas only) (PAGEXWP) Numerator: Has met physical activity guidelines – response category 1 Denominator: Includes response categories 1 and 2 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over living in non-remote areas Disaggregation: State and Territory

Footnotes:
a) For more information about how lifetime risk was assessed using these guidelines, see the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.
b) Excludes persons who self-reported being pregnant at time of interview. For more information about how Body Mass Index was calculated, see the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.
c) For more information about how fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed using these guidelines, see the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.
d) For more information about how physical activity was assessed using these guidelines, see the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.

Target 9A: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88%

Contextual information: Structural problems including functional health hardware
Measure	2022–23 NATSIHS Data Item	Other data specifications
Proportion of households living in housing of an acceptable standard (a)	Whether household living in house of an acceptable standard (ACCSTAND) Numerator: Household living in house of an acceptable standard – response category 1 Denominator: Response categories 1 and 5.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of households living in dwellings with no major structural problems	Number of major structural problems (STRUPRBC) Numerator: No major structural problems – response category 0 Denominator: Response categories 0 to 10.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type	Whether has working facilities for washing people (WASHPEOP) Numerator: Has working facilities for washing people – response category 1 Denominator: Response categories 1 and 5.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type	Whether has working facilities for washing clothes or bedding (WASHCLO) Numerator: Has working facilities for washing clothes or bedding – response category 1 Denominator: Response categories 1 and 5.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type	Whether has working facilities for storing and preparing food (FOODPREP) Numerator: Has working facilities for storing and preparing food – response category 1 Denominator: Response categories 1 and 5.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type	Whether has working sewerage facilities (WORKSEW) Numerator: Has working sewerage facilities – response category 1 Denominator: Response categories 1 and 5.	Population: Households Disaggregation: State and Territory

Footnote:
a) Housing of an acceptable standard is defined as: a house with 4 working facilities (for washing people, for washing clothes or bedding, for storing and preparing food, and sewerage) and no more than 2 major structural problems.

Target 14: Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero

Contextual information: Psychological distress
Measure	2022–23 NATSIHS Data Item	Other data specifications
Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reporting experiencing psychological distress (a)	Kessler 5 score (categorised) (MNKFIVGP) Numerator: High/very high (12–25) – response category 2 Denominator: Includes response categories 1 to 3 Excludes response category 0.	Population: Persons aged 18 years and over and present at interview Disaggregation: State and Territory

Footnote:
a) For more information about the modified Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K5), see the 2022–23 NATSIHS Methodology page.

Contextual information – Barriers accessing health services
Measure	2022–23 NATSIHS Data Item	Other data specifications
Proportion of people reporting they did not visit a health service provider when needed by type of service	Reason(s) did not go to hospital in last 12 months (REASHOS) Numerator: Did not visit hospital when needed – response categories 10 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to GP in last 12 months (REASDOC) Numerator: Did not visit GP when needed – response categories 10 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to OHP in last 12 months (REASOHP) Numerator: Did not visit OHP when needed – response categories 10 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to dentist in last 12 months (REASDEN) Numerator: Did not visit dentist when needed – response categories 10 to 22 Denominator: Includes response categories 10 to 23 Excludes response category 97.	Population: Persons 2 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reasons didn't go to counsellor in the last 12 months (REASCOU) Numerator: Did not visit Counsellor when needed – response categories 10 to 22 Denominator: Includes response categories 10 to 23 Excludes response category 97.	Population: Persons 18 years and over and present at interview Disaggregation: State and Territory
Proportion of people reporting a specific type of barrier/s to accessing a health service provider by type of service(a)	Reason(s) did not go to hospital in last 12 months (REASHOS) Numerator: Affordability – response category 10 Cultural safety – response categories 11 to 13, 15 and 19 Time and physical accessibility – response categories 14, 16 and 17 Busyness (work, personal, family responsibilities) – response category 18 Other reason for not visiting – response categories 20 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to GP in last 12 months (REASDOC) Numerator: Affordability – response category 10 Cultural safety – response categories 11 to 13, 15 and 19 Time and physical accessibility – response categories 14, 16 and 17 Busyness (work, personal, family responsibilities) – response category 18 Other reason for not visiting – response categories 20 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to OHP in last 12 months (REASOHP) Numerator: Affordability – response category 10 Cultural safety – response categories 11 to 13, 15 and 19 Time and physical accessibility – response categories 14, 16 and 17 Busyness (work, personal, family responsibilities) – response category 18 Other reason for not visiting – response categories 20 to 22 Denominator: Response categories 10 to 23.	Population: All persons Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reason(s) did not go to dentist in last 12 months (REASDEN) Numerator: Affordability – response category 10 Cultural safety – response categories 11 to 13, 15 and 19 Time and physical accessibility – response categories 14, 16 and 17 Busyness (work, personal, family responsibilities) – response category 18 Other reason for not visiting – response categories 20 to 22 Denominator: Includes response categories 10 to 23 Excludes response category 97.	Population: Persons 2 years and over Disaggregation: State and Territory
	Reasons didn't go to counsellor in the last 12 months (REASCOU) Numerator: Affordability – response category 10 Cultural safety – response categories 11 to 13, 15 and 19 Time and physical accessibility – response categories 14, 16 and 17 Busyness (work, personal, family responsibilities) – response category 18 Other reason for not visiting – response categories 20 to 22 Denominator: Includes response categories 10 to 23 Excludes response category 97.	Population: Persons 18 years and over and present at interview Disaggregation: State and Territory

a) People may have reported more than one reason for not going to a particular health professional. Therefore, reasons for not visiting a particular health professional may not add to total people who did not visit that health professional when needed.

Data Downloads

For more information see: 2022–23 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Item List.

Methodology

For more information see: Methodology.

APA

Citation