Improved life satisfaction, increased psychological distress and excess mortality – what does the latest two-yearly Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report on the welfare and wellbeing of Australians tell us?
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth recently launched the latest AIHW report on the welfare and wellbeing of Australians.
Using various data sources, Australia’s Welfare 2023 looks at temporary and lasting effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the way Australians live and work, including through accelerating existing social trends.
AIHW Deputy Chief Executive Matthew James said Australia has come a long way since the previous edition of Australia’s welfare in September 2021.
“At that time, many Australians were experiencing lockdowns, only 44.7 per cent of people over the age of 16 were fully vaccinated against COVID, and most children aged 12-15 weren’t yet eligible to receive COVID vaccines,” Mr James said.
“Life is much more ‘normal’ now for most Australians; however, some things are quite different to before the pandemic.”
So, what does Australia’s Welfare 2023 tell us?
According to the report, life satisfaction levels have improved in the Australian population since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but have not returned to similar levels as before the pandemic.
While average life satisfaction tends to be reasonably stable in Australia, there were rapid changes during the pandemic according to an ANUPoll.
Average life satisfaction has increased since August 2021 but remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, with the ANUPoll recording 6.6 out of 10 in August 2023.
Adults experiencing severe psychological distress remain higher than both pandemic and pre-pandemic levels.
In February 2017, 8.4 per cent of adults were experiencing severe psychological distress, with numbers jumping to 10.6 per cent in April 2020 and 12.5 per cent in October 2021.
In August 2023, 12.9 per cent of adults reported severe psychological distress.
The report shows a net total of 10,176 excess deaths in Australia from the start of the pandemic (January 2020) to the end of March 2023 – more than 10,000 deaths than expected based on previous trends.
COVID-19 accounted for a high proportion of the excess deaths.
According to Australia’s Welfare 2023, widespread working from home is likely to remain common in the years ahead, labour market outcomes remain strong, and a long-term decline in the proportion of Australians undertaking voluntary work continues.
The proportion of Australians aged 15-74 with a non-school qualification – such as a university degree, certificate or diploma has likewise increased from 56 per cent in 2013 to 63 per cent in 2022.
