Hip fractures are serious and may lead to disability, reduced quality of life, loss of independence and even premature death. Every day in 2006-07, more than 40 Australians - most of them aged 65 or over - broke their hip. But the incidence rate is on the decline, having fallen by 14% in males and...

This publication describes a framework to map statistical information about Indigenous people, in the context of the interrelationships with their social and physical environments. Not only does it provide a means to present existing data, the framework also provides the means to identify potential data gaps. The framework attempts to provide a holistic approach to...

This paper outlines the federal government's plan for a national hospital network, funded nationally and run locally. The National Health and Hospitals Network will: • create a single national network of hospitals, instead of eight separate systems, • be funded nationally, with the Australian government shouldering the majority of the funding burden, which will mean...

This report provides information on what medicines Australians are using to manage their musculoskeletal problems, how much these medicines cost them and trends in the prescription of newer medicines. Medicines are central to managing arthritis and osteoporosis, to improve musculoskeletal functions, slow disease progression and reduce pain and inflammation. Pharmaceutical innovations over the last several...

The use of asbestos has been banned in Australia since 2003. However, as a result of the widespread use of asbestos in the past, there remains a large amount of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in older buildings. These ACMs include asbestos cement sheet walls, asbestos cement pipes and asbestos containing electrical switchboards. Construction and maintenance...