The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released its biennial report card on Thursday. The report detailed increased cancer survival rates, a decline in childhood immunization rates, and ongoing health disparities among First Nations people.

The five-year relative survival rate for cancer patients in Australia rose from 50% to 72% over a 30-year period. Cancer diagnoses among individuals in their 30s and 40s increased between 2000 and 2025, while death rates for this age group declined during the same period. Louise Gates, a spokesperson for the institute, stated, "People diagnosed with cancer today are surviving longer than ever before, reflecting advances in diagnosis and treatment."

Pediatrician Associate Professor Nicholas Chartres noted the report's focus on treatment. Chartres stated, "Once someone gets diagnosed with cancer, their quality of life after is significantly impacted both physically and psychologically." He added, "This is the main issue with this report: that we're seeing increased life expectancy and there's a discussion on treatment, but we're not looking at preventative measures."

The report showed a decrease in childhood immunization rates. For one-year-olds, rates fell from 95% to 92% between September 2020 and September 2025. Immunization rates for two-year-olds dropped from 93% to 90%, and for five-year-olds, they decreased from 95% to 93% over the same period. Gates commented on this trend, stating, "While Australia has long maintained high childhood immunisation rates, these recent declines are concerning, particularly given rising notifications rates for measles, diphtheria and whooping cough."

Disparities in health outcomes affecting First Nations people were also noted in the report. Childhood vaccination coverage for First Nations one-year-olds decreased by 3.9% between 2020 and 2025, compared to a 2.6% decline for non-Indigenous one-year-olds. The report noted progress in some areas for First Nations people, including declines in smoking and risky alcohol consumption, a decrease in disease burden, and an expansion of First Nations-specific healthcare services.

Chronic conditions accounted for most deaths and disease burden in Australia. The report indicated that one-third of the country's disease burden could be reduced through modifications to risk and environmental factors. From 2022 to 2024, over half of deaths among Australians under 75 were due to potentially avoidable causes.