In 2002, the NSW Department of Health, in conjunction
with the 17 area health services, completed the first year
of the New South Wales Continuous Health Survey, an
ongoing survey that uses computer-assisted telephone
interviewing. The main aims of the Continuous Health
Survey are to provide detailed information on the health
of the people of NSW, and to support the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of health services and
programs. Following on from previous health surveys
conducted in 1997, 1998, and 2002, this is the fourth
survey that has collected data on the health of adults in
NSW. This article announces the release of the New South
Wales Adult Health Survey 2003 and highlights changes
in health behaviour, health status, and satisfaction with
health services that occurred between 1997 and 2003