ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication is the first publication of detailed physical activity results from the 2012–13 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS). It contains data on:

• physical activity
• sedentary behaviour (including screen-based activity)
• screen-based equipment and household rules
• pedometer steps.

In the AATSIHS, physical activity data was collected in both the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS). Where data was common across the two surveys the data has been combined together. This combined data is referred to as the ‘Core’.

The results presented in this publication have been sourced from both the Core as well as the NATSINPAS alone. Comparison data for non-Indigenous have been sourced from the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS), 2011-12, component of the Australian Health Survey.

Physical activity data for adults has previously been presented in the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13 (cat. no. 4727.0.55.001) using NATSIHS data only. As there is limited comparability for adult physical activity data between the two surveys, results in this publication are from the NATSINPAS only, and may differ from previously published data.

Data for physical activity is not comparable between remote and non-remote areas and for this reason have been presented separately in this publication. This is due to the differences in the type of content collected and, particularly for adults, a different reference period.

For more information on the collection of physical activity, and comparability within the AATSIHS components and with other sources, see the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2012-13 (cat no.4727.0.55.002).