National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey 2022–24

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey (NATSIHMS) 2022–24 was conducted from August 2023 to April 2024 and involved the collection of biomedical samples from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants aged 5 years and over across Australia, in both non-remote and remote areas, including discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

It measured specific biomarkers for chronic disease and nutrition status, from tests on blood and urine samples from volunteering participants selected in either the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2022–23 or the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2023.

Biomarkers collected include:

• chronic disease biomarkers, including tests for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and liver function
• nutrient biomarkers, including tests for iron, folate, vitamin B12, iodine, vitamin D, sodium and potassium levels.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances were not tested in this survey following consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Participants’ self-reported information on health conditions and health risk factors, such as diet, physical activity and smoking, was taken from their responses in the other IHMHS surveys. For more information, see Overlap between surveys in the IHMHS.

This was the second time the ABS collected voluntary biomedical data in the NATSIHMS. It was previously collected in 2012–13.

More information on NATSIHMS 2022–24 will become available when results are released.