Public Sector Data Management Project

In early 2015, we led a study about how public sector data helps the government with better service delivery and efficiencies. The study also looked at how the private sector can use data to stimulate economic activity.

The project focused on how the Australian Public Service (APS) manages its research data and open data, while taking into account privacy and security concerns.

The project found that there were pockets of excellence across the APS but the excellence was fragmented and there were some common barriers. These barriers were both real and perceived. They included cultural and legislative barriers, and a data analytics skills and capability shortage across the APS.

To overcome these barriers, the project established a roadmap to make better use of public data. It began with a period to build confidence and momentum across the APS. After that there was a longer term set of ideas and programs to make it easier for the APS to use, publish and share public data.

Implementation of this roadmap has been documented in the July 2016 Public Sector Data Management Implementation Report.

Implementation of the roadmap has been achieved through collaboration across all Australian Government entities and under the leadership of the Secretaries Data Group, Deputy Secretaries Data Group and the Data Champions Network.

Notably, significant work has been undertaken to progress cross-agency data projects by the departments of Human Services, Health, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Environment, Infrastructure and Regional Development, Industry, Innovation and Science and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In particular, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Data61 have supported Australian Government entities to overcome barriers to data sharing and integration.