South Australian Aboriginal Health Landscape

The South Australian Aboriginal Health Landscape project aims to increase Aboriginal peoples access to and utilisation of health and social data for self-determination and monitoring changes over time.

The South Australian Aboriginal Health Landscape Project analyses health and social data to support Aboriginal community groups in self-determination. The Landscape project achieves this through direction from an Aboriginal governance group who has informed the analysis and reporting of health and social data in ways that are culturally respectful and meaningful to Aboriginal communities. Importantly, the project has advocated on behalf of the community for collection of data that more accurately reflects Aboriginal peoples needs and aspirations. The Landscape project is building a data repository that enables Aboriginal communities to monitor health and social outcomes over time.

Fourteen administrative health and social datasets and population surveys have been analysed, by age, sex and trends over time for 18 geographical areas (Landscapes). Results have been returned to community groups across South Australia, who are using them to inform priority setting, monitor performance of health and social services and advocacy. The Landscape project strives to deliver outcomes according to the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty.

We are currently seeking funding to update data sets and undertake analyses with recent data, including the 2021 ABS Census data. For the first time, as part of the establishment of the monitoring system, we will report a comparison of updated data to baseline data (five-year trends).

This project received funding from the Fay Fuller Foundation (2016-2018)

The artwork depicted above was produced by Lisa Hanson. It is constructed with a combination of contemporary and traditional styles reflecting the ongoing concept of health and wellbeing. The commonality of health and wellbeing is indicated by the green within each of the landscapes, and the green at the centre of the Adelaide metropolitan area. The uniqueness of health and wellbeing is indicated by the difference in colours across the landscapes. The use and sharing of health and wellbeing information is demonstrated through the connectedness of landscapes via the smaller circles, representing meeting or coming together. The black dots around each landscape represent the ownership of health and wellbeing the communities have.