Identity crime and misuse in Australia: Results of the 2021 online survey

This bulletin presents the findings of the latest survey of identity crime and misuse undertaken by the Australian Institute of Criminology as part of the Australian Government’s National Identity Security Strategy. In 2021, 9,956 people across Australia were surveyed about their experience of victimisation over their lifetime and during 2020. Nineteen percent of respondents had experienced misuse of their personal information in their lifetime and seven percent experienced it in the past year—a decline from 2019. Seventy-eight percent of respondents who reported victimisation in the past year experienced a financial loss as a result.

Deaths in custody in Australia 2020-21

The National Deaths in Custody Program has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980. The Australian Institute of Criminology has coordinated the program since its establishment in 1992, the result of a recommendation made the previous year by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. In 2020–21 there were 82 deaths in custody: 66 in prison custody and 16 in police custody or custody-related operations. This report contains detailed information on these deaths and compares the findings with longer term trends.

Deaths in custody in Australia 2019-20

The National Deaths in Custody Program has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980. The Australian Institute of Criminology has coordinated the program since its establishment in 1992, the result of a recommendation made the previous year by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. In 2019-20 there were 113 deaths in custody: 89 in prison custody and 24 in police custody or custody-related operations. This report contains detailed information on these deaths and compares the findings to longer term trends.

A Survey for Ascertaining Details Related to Falls on Stairs or Escalators

Introduction: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, publication titled; ‘Injury in Australia: falls’ states that in 2017–18, 42% of hospitalized injury cases were due to falls, and 40% of injury deaths were due to falls. In Melbourne City, at various stations, there are extremely long escalators, and alarmingly, one sign previously displayed states there are approximately 2-3 falls/ week on train station escalators.Objectives: The aim of the survey was to ascertain the percentage of people who’ve fallen downstairs and escalators.Methods: Distribution of a general convenience survey [n=125] was performed to ascertain the percentage of people who’ve fallen downstairs and escalators. Additional questions related to rain, high-risk footwear, poor lighting, and how many falls they have had. Following that, regardless of whether or not they’d had a fall, questions then focused on whether they had a fear of falling and whether they felt uncomfortable around crowds on stairs or escalators.Results and Discussion: Completed survey forms were eighty-two in total. 29% of people had fallen, with 16% of those people indicating rain, 16% in either high heels or thongs, while 25% indicated poor visibility. Of those who had fallen, the estimate of the number of falls down stairs or escalators ranged from 1–20, with the average being three falls. 39% of respondents, irrespective of whether or not they had fallen, had fear, while 43% felt uncomfortable around crowds.Conclusion: Falls downstairs or escalators are relatively common, in addition to a large percentage of people having fear or feeling uncomfortable.

Crime & justice research 2021

This compendium brings together 21 recent studies published by the Australian Institute of Criminology. The first five chapters outline the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced crime, based on rapidly conducted projects that produced some of the most robust available evidence. The remaining chapters reflect the Institute’s research priorities—violence against women and children, transnational serious and organised crime, illicit drugs and youth crime—and provide insight into our work on these topics.

Analysis of the consumption of sports supplements in elite fencers according to sex and competitive level

Background The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of sports supplements (SS) in competitive level fencers and compare differences based on sex and competitive level (international and national). Methods A total of 49 fencers (18 men and 31 women) of national (n = 16) and international (n = 33) level completed a questionnaire with questions about SS consumption and the possible repercussions on health and / or sports performance. The results were analyzed based on the different categorizations established by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), as well as by sex and level of competence to which the participants belonged to. Results 46.9% of fencers have consumed SS with the main motivation being performance improvement (34.2%). Medical doctors were the individuals who were more likely to advise men to consume SS (50.0% vs 5.6%; OR = 3.29 [1.50–7.20]). Friends were most likely to advise women (38.9% vs 8.3%; OR = 1.75 [1.05–2.93]). The most consumed SS were sport drinks (44.9%), vitamin C (43.4%), sport bars (38.8%), and caffeine (28.6%). In regards to the SS categories, it was observed differences in the interaction level·sex in medical supplements (p = 0.017). In addition, there was a higher prevalence of whey protein consumption in women (25.8% vs 0%; p = 0.020) and iron consumption in men (33% vs 6.5%; p = 0.039). Conclusions The prevalence of SS use in fencers is within the values previously reported in athletes of the same competitive level. There were no differences by sex and competitive level in the total consumption of SS, nor in each of the groups of level of evidence, being sport drinks, bars and caffeine the most consumed SS.

Deaths in custody in Australia 2018-19

The National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP) has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980. The Australian Institute of Criminology has coordinated the NDICP since its establishment in 1992, the result of a recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody the previous year. This report contains detailed information on the 113 deaths in custody in 2018–19—89 in prison custody and 24 in police custody or custody-related operations—and compares these findings to longer term trends.

Overview of In-Hospital Diabetes Management: Audit of Patients Attending a Rural Hospital in Queensland, Australia

Context: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) health survey in 2018 demonstrated that mortality rates from diabetes in remote and very remote areas were twice as high compared to those in the urban regions. Moreover, diabetic patients in the lowest socioeconomic areas were more than twice as likely to die from the disease and its associated complications than those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (77 and 33 per 10,000 respectively) [1]. These health disparities prompted a closer look into the quality of local inpatient diabetes management in order to identify the changes required to improve diabetes care in a rural community. Methods: A retrospective audit assessing all adult patients (aged over 18) with diabetes between August and October 2019 who attended treatment in one rural health centre in Queensland, Australia was conducted. Information was obtained from paper based patient records, especially the state-wide insulin subcutaneous order and blood glucose chart. Results: There were 122 diabetic inpatients during the study period. 9 were excluded due to poor documentation on the details of diabetes or insulin management. Men comprised 62% (n = 75) of the patients and the chronicity of diabetes in the majority of the patients was either unknown or undocumented (n = 90). Type 2 diabetes represented 87% (n = 106) of the hospitalisations. There were 64 hospitalisations with diabetes or diabetic related complications as the principal diagnoses. Among these, 7% (n = 8) were due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) or severe hyperglycaemia with ketosis, while 2 patients (1.7%) presented with hypoglycaemia. The majority (32%, n = 36) of the diabetic related complications were due to an underlying infection. Throughout inpatient stay, half (50.4%, n = 57) of the patients experienced one or more hyperglycaemic episodes and 14% (n = 16) experienced at least one hypoglycaemic events. The prevalence of inappropriate management of hyperglycaemia during this period was observed to be 21%. This was due to prescription errors i.e. usual insulin not prescribed (n = 7), erroneous insulin type (n = 3) and unsigned order (n = 4). Persistent hyperglycaemia, defined locally by blood glucose level (BGL) > 12 mmol/L was not managed ideally in 10 patients due to either lack of communication between staffs and physicians or failure to make changes when notifications were relayed. Patients were followed up until the discharge phase. Nearly half (41.8%, n = 51) of the patients were found to have no clearly documented follow up plans albeit the limitations of paper based clinical records should be taken into account. Conclusion: The management of diabetes in the rural communities can be challenging. Communication between the different layers of healthcare providers is imperative to ensure hyperglycaemia among hospitalised patients is not mismanaged. Clear documentation of insulin doses and BGL levels on paper records as well as regular education and shared clinical experience on insulin titration in response to abnormal BGL levels by clinicians are strategies to improve diabetes care. Reference: 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2021. Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes - Australian Institute Of Health And Welfare. [online] Available at: <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/diabetes/contents/hospital-care-for-diabetes/type-2-diabetes> [Accessed 6 January 2021].