Behind the data
Welcome to Behind the data, a podcast from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). In each episode, we sit down with the authors behind our latest reports and data releases, alongside guests from across the health and welfare sectors, to delve beyond the numbers and explore the impact. Through expert insights and lived experience perspectives, we uncover how AIHW data is helping to shape policy, inform decisions and improve lives across Australia. The AIHW is an independent Australian Government agency and the nation's leading source of authoritative health and welfare information. Each year, we publish more than 200 reports and data products covering over 75 topics, providing trusted evidence to help Australians better understand the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Episodes
In this episode, we explore how children in Australia are faring in 2026, taking a closer look at their health, wellbeing and the challenges shaping their lives. Coinciding with Children's Week, an annual opportunity to celebrate children and highlight their rights to thrive, learn, play and be heard, we reflect on what the latest data ...
In this episode, we explore the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's (AIHW) Living with Dementia Survey, which provides new insights into the experiences of people living with dementia in the community and the informal carers who support them.
In this episode, we explore the AIHW's role in collecting, analysing and reporting national data on the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) system. The data helps build a clearer picture of homelessness in Australia and support evidence-based decisions around services and support.
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In this episode, we explore the release of the AIHW's most comprehensive and detailed collection of data on cancer outcomes for First Nations people to date.
We're joined by Justin Harvey, head of the AIHW's Cancer Data and Monitorin...
In this episode, we unpack the findings from Australia's health 2026, the AIHW's 20th flagship report published every 2 years. It provides an overview of the current state of the nation's health as it experiences both progress and challenges.
Head of the AIHW's Flagship Reporting Unit, Melanie Dunford, talks us through the trends shaping health outcomes in Australia, from rising life expectancy and improving cancer survival to...
It's the 20th anniversary of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Since the program begun in 2006, about 14.3 million screening tests have been completed.
The AIHW has just published the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program monitoring report 2026 and the head of the Screening and Analysis Unit, Moira Hewitt takes us through the latest insights.
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Today's discussion is centred around the AIHW's newly released Deaths in Australia report.
Michelle Gourley, head of Burden of Disease Unit, brings key insights from the report, including that dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as the leading cause of death, and that while most deaths occur at older ages, almost half of deaths among people under 75 are potentially avoidable. The conversation also explores how causes of d...
It's May Measurement Month and today's discussion focuses on a medical condition known as the 'silent killer, due to lack of symptoms. In 2024, high blood pressure presented a risk factor to 4.4% of Australia's total disease burden and contributed to 13% of all deaths in Australia in 2023.
To support greater aw...
The Palliative care services in Australia – update shows end-of-life health service use has been steadily increasing in hospitals and outpatient settings, along with the costs to provide them. In this episode head of the AIHW's Aged Care Data...
AIHW data shows falls are landing thousands of Australians in hospital each month. April is Falls Prevention month, providing the opportunity to discuss fall types and resulting injuries.
Stats show about 680 people a day are hospitalised after tripping or stumbling, and that in the decade up to 2022-2023, over half of all injury deaths were due to falls among women aged 65 years and over.
Joining this episode are Jacqu...
This episode features the latest data on endometriosis - a condition that impacts thousands of Australian girls and women.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, providing an opportunity to speak about the deep-reaching impact of this potentially debilitating health condition including number of emergency department presentations, hospitalisations and medical treatments an...
In this episode, we take a look at ovarian, prostate and breast cancer statistics in Australia. The institute's head of cancer data and monitoring, Justin Harvey discusses how cancer survival rates have improved across the board. Justin's joined by Chair of Cancer Council's Public Health Committee, Anita Dessaix who speaks on how the AIHW's data is used to support targeted cancer screening and prevention initiatives.
Meet the graduates... behind the data
In this special episode, guest host and 2021 AIHW Graduate Kimberly Dunbar is joined by Sally Mills, head of the Children & Families Unit who also started out as an AIHW Grad. They discuss their experiences with the AIHW Graduate Program.
Kick start your career in data
Applications for our 2022 Graduate Program are now open! About to complete a degree in science, public health or mathematic...
In this episode of Behind the data, host Elise Guy discusses the health and wellbeing of Australia's young people with Sally Mills of the AIHW's Children and Families Unit.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent government agency that produces authoritative and accessible information and statistics on the he...
In this episode of Behind the data, host Elise Guy discusses dementia deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Fleur de Crespigny of the AIHW's Dementia Unit.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent government agency that produces authoritative and accessible information and statistics on the health ...
In this episode of Behind the data, host Peter Jean talks to Dr Heather Swanston of the AIHW's Hospital Systems Group about golden staph bloodstream infections associated with hospital care in Australia.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent government agency that produces authoritative and accessible information and statistics on the health and welfare of Australians. The AIHW publicly r...
Content Warning: This podcast episode contains discussion relating to suicide from 17:45 – 18:28. If you, or someone you know is distressed, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.
In this episode of Behind the data, host Peter Jean discusses the AIHW's final releases of the year which examine the impact of COVID-19 on Australia's health system—including mental health, elective surgery, emergency depa...
The 2019–20 bushfire season saw unprecedented fires sweep across Australia, with devastating impacts on many communities, the destruction of the natural environment and air quality compromised. Tragically, 33 people lost their lives.
In this episode of Behind the data, host Peter Jean discusses the release of the AIHW's new report 'Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts' with Richard Jucke...
In this episode of Behind the data, host Peter Jean discusses the release of the AIHW's new report 'Cancer screening and COVID-19 in Australia' with Richard Juckes and Fan Xiang of the AIHW.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent government agency that produces authoritative and accessible information and statistics on the health and welfare of Australians. The AIHW publicly released over ...
In this episode of Behind the data, we discuss COVID-19, the release of Australia's health 2020, and speak with Dr Lynelle Moon, epidemiology advisor, and Simone Brown of the AIHW.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent government agency that produces authoritative and accessible information and statistics on the health and welfare of Australians. The AIHW publicly released over 200 reports and data...
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