Australia's Biennial Health Report: Longer Lives, More Years Sick, Rising Vaccine Concerns

Australia's landmark health report shows longer lifespans but more years spent in poor health, falling vaccination rates, and dementia overtaking heart disease as the leading killer.

A woman born in Australia in 2024 can expect to live to 85.1 years on average — but only 73.8 of those years in full health, meaning more than a decade will likely be spent managing illness or disability. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released its biennial health report card on Thursday, painting a mixed picture of a nation living longer but not necessarily better. Among the report's notable findings: the five-year survival rate for cancer patients has climbed from 50% to 72% over the past 30 years, a significant medical achievement. However, cancer diagnosis rates are rising among younger Australians, and dementia has now overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in the country. Mental illness is increasing among young people, according to the report, adding to a growing burden of chronic and age-related conditions. Perhaps most urgently flagged by health experts is a decline in childhood vaccination rates, which the report links to rising case numbers of measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough — diseases once considered under control in Australia. The AIHW publishes this report every two years as a comprehensive snapshot of the nation's health trends, drawing on data across mortality, disease, and preventive care.

Why it matters

The findings affect millions of Australians and signal mounting pressure on the health system from chronic disease, an ageing population, and resurgent vaccine-preventable illnesses. Declining vaccination rates in children represent a particular public health risk, as herd immunity thresholds for diseases like measles require very high coverage rates.

What's next

Health experts are calling for policy responses to address falling vaccination rates and the growing burden of mental illness and dementia, though no specific government measures were announced alongside the report's release.

Key facts

• Australia's average life expectancy for women born in 2024 is 85.1 years, but healthy life expectancy is just 73.8 years
• Cancer five-year survival rates rose from 50% to 72% over the past 30 years
• Dementia has overtaken heart disease as Australia's leading cause of death
• Childhood vaccination rates are falling, contributing to rising cases of measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough
• Mental illness is increasing among young Australians, according to the report
• The AIHW report is released every two years and covers broad national health trends

Bias & framing notes

The Guardian led with cancer survival improvements and vaccination concerns, framing the report as broadly cautionary. The Conversation's two pieces split the story differently — one emphasising the gap between lifespan and healthy years, the other foregrounding dementia and mental illness. No sources contradicted each other on facts, but the choice of which finding to headline varied significantly, reflecting editorial judgments about what readers would find most alarming or relevant.