ABOUT THE SURVEY

The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) is the largest and most comprehensive study of Aboriginal child health and development ever undertaken in Australia. Its main aim is to improve community and scientific understanding of what Aboriginal children and young people need to develop in healthy ways.

The survey was designed to build the knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

All phases of the survey, including its development, design and implementation, were under the direction of the WAACHS Steering Committee. The Steering Committee comprises senior Aboriginal people from a cross section of agencies and settings.

Size and scope

The survey investigated the health of 5,289 Western Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people aged 0–17 years. The survey was conducted in 2000 and 2001 by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR) in conjunction with the Kulunga Research Network.