Western Australia Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System trend dashboard

The following population health data dashboard explores the general health and wellbeing of the Western Australia population and is sourced from the Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System.

The Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System (HWSS) is a state-wide population-based survey established by the WA Department of Health in 2002 to monitor the health and wellbeing of Western Australians. Approximately 700 Western Australian are randomly selected each month to complete the survey online or over the telephone to collect information about their physical and mental health and wellbeing. The data collected helps in understanding the health and wellbeing of the community and informs policy and planning of health services and programs.

The purpose of this dashboard is to provide access to data collected from the HWSS from 2002 to 2022. Data presented are for adults aged 16 years and over, and children aged 0-15 years. The Department of Health has taken great care to ensure the information in this dashboard is as correct and accurate as possible. Whilst the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. Differences in statistical methods and calculations, data updates and guidelines may result in the information contained in this dashboard varying from previously published information.

About the data

The data presented in the dashboard have been weighted to adjust the proportions of certain demographic characteristics of the respondents so that they match the corresponding proportions in the total WA population. This is also known as raked weighting.

The visuals and tables  in this dashboard display  the prevalence estimate (also known as percentage or proportion) of a particular risk factor or health condition within the Western Australia population along with the 95% confidence interval. The 95 per cent confidence interval is the range within which the true estimate would lie 95 out of 100 times.

The wider the confidence interval is around an estimate, the less precise the estimate is, and the more caution that should be applied with using it. Confidence intervals can also be used to determine statistical significance. If the confidence intervals do not overlap, then the estimates are considered significantly different. When the confidence interval of the estimates does overlap, the estimates are deemed not significantly different; however, this should be considered a guide only and a formal test of statistical significance would be required to arrive at statistically credible conclusion.

All tables and visuals display state prevalence estimates for each year, which can be broken down by sex.

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