Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in far north Queensland are suffering from anaemia at a vastly higher rate than the general population, a new study has found.

Anaemia is usually caused by a low level of iron in the blood, and a new study by Queensland and interstate researchers has found almost two thirds (61.3 per cent) of Indigenous children in the region became anaemic at between six and 23 months old.

That compared to the national figure across the same age range, which varies from 8 to 13 per cent, depending on the report.

Indigenous children in Yarrabah, near Cairns. Credit:Janie Barrett

The study’s lead author, Dympna Leonard from James Cook University, said the findings suggested much more needed to be done to secure food supply to remote Indigenous communities.