DataPoints - National Data Commissioner Update May 2024
This month we registered our first 2 data sharing agreements – a major milestone for the DATA Scheme. These agreements support sharing data originating from the Departments of Social Services, and Health and Aged Care, the National Disability Insurance Agency, and state and territory births and deaths registers to create the National Disability Data Asset. The National Disability Data Asset aims to improve outcomes for people with disability by improving the scope of available insights and ability to share those insights, including with people with disability. It will inform decision making about government programs and services to better support people with disability, their families and carers. You can learn more by visiting the National Disability Data Asset website and can check out our register of data sharing agreements.
A further 5 requests through Dataplace have led to sharing. We are looking forward to hearing how these data shares have delivered public value.
You can make a request for data on Dataplace. If you haven’t already, you need to first onboard to Dataplace. We regularly host webinars and have guidance on our website – check it out here. You can also contact us at any time for assistance.
There are now 20 accredited data users who can make requests for data under the Scheme and 11 entities accredited to provide data services – deidentification, data integration and secure access services. Congratulations to recently accredited entities: Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Productivity Commission and Department of Education as data users – and the University of Melbourne as a data user and data service provider. We are meeting and, in some cases, beating our service level standards for assessing applications – 2 months for data users and 3 months for data service providers. Find out how to make your application for accreditation here.
The Australian Government Data Catalogue – Are you in?
As we approach the public beta release of the Australian Government Data Catalogue, we are calling for Australian Government agencies to contribute information about their data assets to the Catalogue. Researchers and others will be able to search the Catalogue to find data assets held by Australian Government agencies. By contributing to the Catalogue you will also be delivering on the Government’s commitments in the Data and Digital Government Strategy and helping to increase the availability of data about Indigenous Australians and women. Contact us before the end of the financial year to ensure your data is included in the release.
End of financial year reporting for Australian Government agencies – know your obligations
Australian Government agencies are required to report their DATA Scheme activity for each financial year to the National Data Commissioner by 31 July.
Agencies must report on the number of Scheme data requests they received, the number agreed to and refused and reasons for agreeing or refusing, the number of refusals where reasons were not given within 28 days of a decision being made, the number of data sharing agreements entered into, and information about any complaints they received about the Scheme or their conduct relating to the Scheme.
ONDC collects this information through Dataplace and will contact agencies with information recorded on Dataplace to verify that it is correct. Agencies will need to report separately to the Commissioner any activities that have taken place external to Dataplace.
We are hosting a webinar in June about reporting obligations – see below for more details. You can also read our guidance on the DATA Scheme’s reporting requirements for more information.
Want to learn more about the DATA Scheme and build your organisation’s data capability?
We are hosting webinars and online meetings on Wednesday 19 June. This month’s focus includes how Australian Government agencies can contribute to the Australian Government Data Catalogue and how Scheme participants can establish data sharing agreements and understand their reporting requirements:
- Contributing to the Australian Government Data Catalogue – 10am AEST – Register here.
This is a session for Australian Commonwealth agencies to help them better understand how to contribute their data inventory into the Australian Government Data Catalogue.
- Establishing a DATA Scheme data sharing agreement – 11:30am AEST – Register here.
Join us for an overview and walk-through of what a data sharing agreement must contain, including advice on key privacy, ethics, and confidentiality issues, and a demonstration of how to generate a data sharing agreement template.
- Scheme entities’ responsibilities and reporting obligations – 1:30pmAEST – Register here.
We are inviting Australian Government agencies who are Data Custodians under the Scheme and entities accredited under the Scheme to learn more about what information they need to report to the National Data Commissioner, and how they can report it.
Good reads for the data community
The WA government has introduced a new Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Bill to WA Parliament. The proposed legislation will provide Western Australians with greater control over their personal information and improve the delivery of government services. Read more about the new Bill here.
The Digital ID legislation (Digital ID Act 2024 and the Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2024) has now passed Australian Parliament and will commence by 1 December 2024. The legislation will provide individuals with secure, convenient, voluntary and inclusive ways to verify their identity for use in online transactions with government and businesses. Read more here.
Good uses of public data
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National social housing survey for 2023 found the overall satisfaction rate of tenants has decreased from 73% in 2021 to 69% in 2023. Despite the decrease in satisfaction, almost 4 in 5 tenants reported economic, health and social benefits from living in social housing. Check out the survey results here.
If you have feedback or something to share in future editions of DataPoints, please get in touch. We are always interested to hear your stories, including how you have used data to deliver public benefit. Also, make sure to follow us on LinkedIn!
Gayle