National Health Performance Authority Healthy Communities: Infant mortality rate, 2010–2012

By Medicare Local catchment, which is derived from Address—statistical area, level 2 (SA2) code (ASGS 2011) N(9), and by Medicare Local peer group.

Medicare Locals plan and fund health services in communities across Australia. They help to ensure patients can access the care they need, particularly when a variety of health workers are involved in providing treatments. A Medicare Local catchment refers to the geographic area of a Medical Local (see Administrative health region—Medicare Local identifier, code AANNN)

Medicare Local peer groups are the grouping of the 61 Medicare Locals into seven peer groups, which allows Medicare Locals to be compared to other Medicare Locals with similar characteristics, and to the average for their peer group (see Administrative health region—Medicare Local peer group, code N). This grouping was undertaken by the National Health Performance Authority using statistical cluster analysis of 2006 Census based socioeconomic status for each Medicare Local and, 2006 Census based Remoteness Area categories (ABS cat. no. 2039.0). Additional information on the average distance to the closest large city and major hospital (A1 public hospital peer group classification, 2010–11) contributed to the assignment of Medicare Locals to peer groups. Groupings were tested for face validity with a stakeholder group. The National Health Performance Authority has created 7 peer groups: Metro 1 to 3, Regional 1 and 2 and Rural 1 and 2. See Healthy Communities: Australians’ experiences with primary health care in 2010–11, Technical Supplement for more information.