We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Australia’s record of cancer survival is one of the best in the world, yet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience disparities in cancer outcomes. Cancer is the second most common cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (20%), after cardiovascular disease.¹

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Indicators website is a unique, dynamic national resource that brings together, for the first time, trusted national data to inform where our efforts can be best placed to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes.

The Indicators are designed to monitor performance across the seven priority areas outlined in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework and align with the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. These Indicators are designed to lead to better care and improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with cancer.

The website provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer data in one location designed for use by policymakers, governments, cancer organisations, researchers, health professionals, and consumers. The data on the website will enhance understanding, stimulate enquiry and inform future directions in cancer control, whether in research, policy or clinical care. It will also be a trustworthy, authoritative source of information for the broader community and people affected by cancer.

Data presented on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Indicators website represents currently available data sourced and collated in a coordinated approach involving Australia’s key national cancer data custodians including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Cancer Australia is working to improve the availability of national cancer data, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Indicators website is designed to be updated as new data becomes available and showcase new data developments in national cancer control over time.

Cancer Australia acknowledges that there is no single Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or group and that there are many diverse communities, language groups and kinships throughout Australia. However, when presenting data we will be respectfully using the term Indigenous Australians.

Reference

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2015. The health and welfare of Australia’s
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2015. Cat. no. IHW 147. Canberra: AIHW.