Find health and medical information from books, journal databases and reputable online resources at State Library Victoria.
Statistical information around health topics is available to the public from a variety of governmental and public health agencies. Health statistics can be used to understand risk factors for communities, track and monitor diseases, see the impact of policy changes, and assess the quality and safety of health care.
Health statistics are a form of evidence that can support both policy-making, as well as evidence-based medicine practice. Evidence can vary in quality and the applicability to a given situation. It is essential that researchers and policy makers understand how to assess evidence in systematic ways, including how to access transparent, high quality health statistics and information.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the independent statutory agency of the Australian Government responsible for statistical collection and analysis, and for giving evidence-based advice to federal, state and territory governments. They have a range of statistical data related to health and health services in Australia.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is Australia's national agency for information and statistics on Australia's health and welfare. Statistics and data developed by the AIHW are used extensively to inform discussion and policy decisions on health, community services and housing assistance.
Health statistics and information can be found on state government health department websites.
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
Published annually, each year this report combines an expert assessment of global health, including statistics relating to all countries, with a focus on a specific subject. A key resource for international health statistics.