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Data Integration Partnership for Australia

The Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA) was a three-year $130.8 million investment to maximise the use and value of the Government’s data assets from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020. DIPA created new insights into important and complex policy questions through data integration and analysis.

DIPA was a whole-of-government collaboration of over 20 Commonwealth agencies, and improved technical data infrastructure and data integration capabilities across the Australian Public Service. Important data assets such as in the health, education and social welfare sectors were improved, allowing policy makers to gain insights that were not possible before.

Individual privacy and the security of sensitive data was preserved, as DIPA only provided access to controlled, de-identified, and confidentialised data for policy analysis and research purposes. DIPA was governed by agencies’ processes and legislation, including the Privacy Act 1988.

1. Components of DIPA

Components of DIPA

The Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA) consisted of several components.

2. Data Assets

The Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA) built or expanded critical data assets, including Better Health and Aging Data, Data Exchange, National Education Evidence Base, Government Protected Data Exchange (GovPDX) (a whole-of-government Secure Information Sharing Capability) and Digital Transformation in National Security program.

3. Data Integration

Data Integration

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) are Accredited Integrating Authorities that were funded to build on their existing data integration and linkage capabilities. They ensure integrated data is de-identified, confidentialised and analysed in safe, secure and controlled environments.

4. Data Analytical Units

Data Analytical Units

A core component of the Data Integration Partnerships for Australia (DIPA) was the establishment of data analytical units.

5. Central Analytics Hub (CAH)

Central Analytics Hub (CAH)

The Central Analytics Hub delivered data analysis projects to generate insights about complex policy questions in areas of government priority, demonstrating the benefits made under DIPA in large data sets, and driving cultural change in the use of data.

6. Economic Data and Analysis Network (EDAN)

Economic Data and Analysis Network (EDAN)

The Economic Data and Analysis Network (EDAN) generated new insights into the operation of the economy and evaluating the performance of policies, programs and services that impact on business.

7. Government Business Analytical Unit (GBAU)

Government Business Analytical Unit (GBAU)

The Government Business Analytical Unit (GBAU) focused on creating efficiencies and reducing duplication in collecting, creating and analysing government business data.

8. Physical Environment Analysis Network (PEAN)

Physical Environment Analysis Network (PEAN)

The Physical Environment Analysis Network increased the value of key environmental datasets by working across government to link them with social and economic data.

9. Social, Health and Welfare Analytical Unit (SHWAU)

Social, Health and Welfare Analytical Unit (SHWAU)

The Social, Health and Welfare Analytical Unit leveraged combined data analytics efforts across the education, health and welfare sectors to gain insights to inform more effective, targeted and earlier policy interventions, service and program delivery that impact, often directly, on Australian’s lives.