The NHS is conducted in all states and territories, excluding very remote areas. Non-private dwellings such as hotels, motels, hospitals, nursing homes and short-stay caravan parks were also not included in the survey. The exclusion of persons usually resident in very remote areas has a small impact on estimates, except for the Northern Territory, where such persons make up a relatively large proportion of the population. The 2007-08 NHS response rate was 91%. NHS data are weighted to account for nonresponse. The NATSIHS is conducted in all States and Territories and includes remote and non-remote areas. The 2004–05 sample was 10,000 persons/5,200 households, with a response rate of 81% of households. As it is drawn from a sample survey, the indicator is subject to sampling error. Sampling error occurs because only a small proportion of the population is used to produce estimates that represent the whole population. Sampling error can be reliably estimated as it is calculated based on the scientific methods used to design surveys. Rates should be considered with reference to their Relative Standard Error (RSE). Estimates with RSEs between 25% and 50% should be used with caution. Estimates with RSEs greater than 50% are generally considered too unreliable for general use.
Rates of people who have accessed health services by state/territory and type of service or Indigenous status have acceptable levels of sampling error for all states and territories except for NT, for which data should be used with caution. Some data for NT in these tables has RSEs greater than 50%. Data disaggregated by health status, remoteness and type of service used for all persons by state/territory also has acceptable levels of sampling error for all states and territories except for NT, and for remote data for all states, which should be used with caution. Data on casualty/outpatient/day clinic visits for remote respondents is considered too unreliable for general use.
Data disaggregated by health status, index of disadvantage and type of service used for all persons by state/territory has acceptable levels of sampling error for all states, but not for ACT and NT. Much of the data on casualty/outpatient/day clinic and dental visits for States should be used with caution. Most data for ACT and NT in this table is considered too unreliable for general use. |