Improving access to vaccination services may be key to improving immunisation rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, new research led by The University of Queensland has found.
UQ PhD candidate and Southern Queensland Rural Health Principal Project Officer Clara Walker said the review found strong support for immunisation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“This isn’t about people rejecting vaccines – it’s about the practical and cultural barriers families face,” Ms Walker said.
“Transport, clinic availability, wait times and how culturally safe a service feels all play a major role.”
The study reviewed more than a decade of data to identify ways to strengthen vaccination coverage for First Nations children in Australia under 5 years of age.
Associate Professor Paul Gardiner , of UQ’s School of Public Health , said vaccination rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have declined in recent years, raising concerns about protection against preventable diseases.
“We’ve seen a downward trend in childhood immunisation coverage since the pandemic,” Dr Gardiner said.
“If early gaps aren’t addressed, it risks undoing years of positive progress.”
National figures from 2024 show coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is close to the 95 per cent target associated with herd immunity by age 5 but falls short at earlier milestones.
The research found 90.13 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are fully vaccinated at one year of age and only 88.03 per cent at 2 years of age.
“Children are catching up by 5 years of age, but the goal is for on-time vaccination to provide protection in line with the immunisation schedule,” Dr Gardiner said.
Study co-author, First Nations midwife, and advanced health worker Cindy Tyson, said the review found successful programs share common characteristics, including strong community involvement, culturally safe services and a visible First Nations health workforce.
“Programs work best when they are responsive to the communities they serve,” Ms Tyson said.
“Improving access to healthcare, such as more flexible services and bringing care closer to families, can make a real difference.
“We know that many health services, including our Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, do great work to provide culturally safe vaccination services.
“We hope this review helps health services build on their strengths and implement practical strategies to support vaccination.”
Read the research in the Australian Journal of Primary Health.
The paper was developed and written by First Nations and non-Indigenous researchers and used the term ‘First Nations peoples’ to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while acknowledging the cultural and linguistic diversity of these communities.
Collaboration and acknowledgements
This paper was produced in collaboration with Darling Downs Health and funded through the Queensland Rural Health Innovation and Research Collaborative.
Southern Queensland Rural Health is a Commonwealth funded collaboration between The University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland, Darling Downs Health and South West Hospital and Health Service.
