DataPoints - Acting National Data Commissioner Update June 2024

We finished off the 2023-24 financial year with some excellent news and achievements to share.

The Australian Government Data Catalogue is here!

The public beta for the Australian Government Data Catalogue will go live on Monday 8 July 2024. You’ll be able to search the Catalogue on Dataplace, a central point to find and request data held by the Australian Government. Once users have discovered the data they wish to access in the Catalogue, they will be directed to openly available data assets or to make a request for the data. A big thanks to the data.gov.au team and Geoscience Australia for their assistance, and to all those agencies who contributed to this first release. We’ll continue working with agencies to build up the number and quality of searchable data assets over time. Until then, if there is a data asset you would like to see in the Catalogue, let us know.

Accredited data users have the added benefit of making requests for data assets using the DATA Scheme, providing assurance that the data will be shared and handled safely and with best data practices. There has never been a better time to get accredited!

In June, we accredited 4 new entities as data users: The University of Adelaide, The University of Queensland, the NSW Ministry of Health and the NSW Department of Customer Service. This takes the total number of accredited data users to 24, and 11 accredited data service providers. View the full register of accredited entities here.

Data Inventories Pilot Program – a great success at uplifting APS data capability

The pilot concluded on 30 June 2024 with the ONDC having completed work with 44 Australian Government agencies to develop their data inventories using a standard methodology. Our final inventory projects include the Australian Electoral Commission, Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council. If your entity didn’t participate, we still support agencies to uplift and enhance their inventories through our online Guide to developing a data inventory.

Want to learn more about the DATA Scheme and build your organisation’s data capability?

We are hosting webinars and online meetings on Wednesday 17 July 2024. Join us for one, or all, to understand DATA Scheme data sharing agreements, obligations and accreditation:

• How to become an accredited data user – 10:00am AEST – Register here.

This is a session for prospective DATA Scheme participants to understand the benefits, criteria and process for getting accredited as a data user.

• 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 – 1:30pm AEST – 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 National Indigenous Australians Agency released the Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data for Australian Government agencies. It is a significant step toward improving the collection, use and disclosure of data, to better serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities. The Australian Government Data Catalogue will have a key role to ensure agency-held data assets containing Indigenous data are discoverable. Read the Framework now.

Good uses of public data

The Department of Health and Aged Care and the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control produce fortnightly Australian Respiratory Surveillance Reports to inform public health and national policy responses to respiratory diseases. Data is compiled across several sources, including the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, FluTracking and wastewater surveillance. In the last report to 16 June 2024, ‘respiratory illness activity (self-reported new fever and cough symptoms) in the community has been higher than, or similar to, the levels of activity observed at the same time in previous years (excluding 2022).’ It sure felt that way! Access the reports here.

As always, if you have any feedback, please get in touch using our contact us page.

Andrew