Australia's Children: Their Health and Wellbeing 1998 is the first national report on the health status of Australian children. Included in this report is information on importantdiseases and injuries, major risk factors and wider determinants of health andwellbeing. Separate sections are presented on the health status of particular priority groups (Indigenous children, children living in rural and remote locations, overseas-born children, and children from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups). Interna-tional comparisons are also included. Much of the information has not previously beenpublished.This report is the first in a series of biennial reports on the health of Australian childrenand youth to be published by the Institute. The first youth health report in the series will be published in 1999.Initial input on the structure and content of this report was provided by participants atthe Workshop on the National Child Health Information Framework, held in March1998. The newly formed National Child Health Information Advisory Committee also provided valued contributions to the structure of the report. Individual members of theAdvisory Committee and others have commented on specific areas of the report.However, the content of the report remains the responsibility of the Australian Instituteof Health and Welfare.This report was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.