Summaries of the key data findings for each state and territory, as well as a national data summary from the fourth Atlas 2021 are available for download:

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), has led the development of the fourth Atlas.

The Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation series explores the extent to which use of health care in Australia varies depending on where people live, how their care is funded and their level of socioeconomic disadvantage.

The Commission consulted widely in the development of this Atlas including with a number of clinical colleges and societies, the Australian Government Department of Health, state and territory health departments and healthcare organisations. The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the significant contribution of its advisory groups and other experts.

The Commission made the following overarching recommendations in light of the findings of the Fourth Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation. These broad recommendations relate to more than one of the topics covered in the fourth Atlas. Recommendations that relate to specific topics can be found within the relevant Chapter, and in the Key findings and recommendations section.

The data in the Atlas show the rates for featured procedures, investigations, treatments or hospitalisations in each geographic area. To calculate rates, the number of interventions that occurred in an area is divided by the population of that area.