Australian Government

We work with a large number of Australian Government departments and agencies in developing, collecting, compiling, analysing, managing and disseminating health and welfare data and information.

Department of Health

As an independent corporate Commonwealth entity in the Health portfolio, we have a strong relationship with the Department of Health.

Our work for the department is guided by a formal deed between the two organisations, except where that work is required to be put out to competitive tender. The department provides funding for significant additional projects beyond work funded through appropriation.

We provide the department with copies of all our publications in advance of public release.

Department of Social Services

Our relationship with the Department of Social Services (DSS) focuses in areas such as housing and homelessness, disability services, child protection and income support.

We are the data custodian of the department’s Housing Data Set and a member of a panel of experts established to support organisations funded under the DSS’s Families and Children Activity. We act as a release point for the DSS’s researchable Centrelink data asset (DOMINO—Data Over Multiple INdividual Occurrences).

We provide the DSS with embargoed copies of our publications that are relevant to its functions.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

The AIHW and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs are parties to an MoU that reflects their commitment to the development of information sources for the delivery of world-class health-care policies and services to veterans. The overarching aim of this partnership is to develop a comprehensive profile of the health and welfare of Australia’s veteran population. It also aims to facilitate a coordinated, whole-of- population approach to monitoring and reporting on the current status and future needs of veterans and their families.

State and territory governments

Much of the government services data that we report at a national level are provided by state and territory government departments that fund and deliver those services. Close working relationships with state and territory governments are critical to developing and reporting nationally consistent and comparable health and welfare data.

Along with numerous government entities from all jurisdictions, we are a party to national information agreements that underpin the activities of national information committees. Separate agreements cover health, community services, early childhood education and care, and housing and homelessness. The agreements ensure that effective infrastructure and governance arrangements are in place for the development, supply and use of nationally consistent data for each of these areas.

Non-government organisations

We have expanded our engagement with NGOs by providing more consultations and briefings on forthcoming releases (including providing embargo access to reports).

Some of the NGOs we engage with on a regular basis include:

• Australian Council of Social Service
• Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association
• Australian Medical Association Consumers Health Forum of Australia
• National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation
• National Rural Health Alliance
• Public Health Association of Australia
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
• Royal Australian College of Physicians
• Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
• Australian Private Hospitals Association.

International collaboration

We play an important role in data standards and classifications work through the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Family of International Classifications and report Australian health statistics to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

We have a staff exchange program with CIHI (Staff exchanges). We also host international visitors to demonstrate our work and to learn from their experiences. In 2019–20, we hosted delegations from the following countries:

• Germany
• Indonesia
• Vietnam.