Australia failing to close the gap on injuries to Indigenous children, study finds

06 Feb 2019

Indigenous children are almost twice as likely as non-Indigenous children to suffer unintentional injury – and the situation hasn’t improved for more than 15 years, a new study shows.

Indigenous children are almost twice as likely to be hospitalised for unintentional injuries such as falls, burns and poisoning than non-Indigenous children, a new study shows.

The analysis also reveals that there has been no overall improvement in injury rates since 2003 and that the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children remains significant.

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney and the University of Wollongong say the findings highlight the need for Aboriginal-led intervention programs.

The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, analysed the records of almost 1 million children born in NSW hospitals between 2003-2007 and 2008-2012, of which around 3% identified as Indigenous.

Lead researcher Dr Holger Möller says: “If you are an Aboriginal child you are much more likely to suffer an unintentional injury such as a burn, and this is despite nationwide safety campaigns and legislation. Children should not be turning up at our hospitals with preventable injuries and we need to recognise this inequality and put in place strategies that will start reducing this startling difference.”

Read the full story here: https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/australia-failing-close-gap-injuries-indigenous-children-study-finds

The George Institute for Global Health