Information about the Data Integration Partnership for Australia
Public DataData Integration Partnership for Australia
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Publication author(s):
Publication abstract:
An overview of the Data Integration Partnership for Australia.
The Data Integration Partnership for Australia (DIPA) is an investment to maximise the use and value of the Government’s data assets. Through data integration and analysis, the DIPA creates new insights into important and complex policy questions.
The DIPA will:
- improve our technical data infrastructure and data integration capabilities
- preserve the privacy of individuals and ensure the security of sensitive data
- improve our data assets in important areas such as health, education and social welfare
- maximise the use of these assets through data integration and analysis.
Governments and organisations have been integrating data for many years – the DIPA builds on data integration progress made by projects such as the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project and the Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment.
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Why we need to integrate data
The most effective government policies, programs and services are those informed by accurate, high quality data.
Data integration creates new datasets by linking data from different sources in privacy preserving ways. It helps answer important and complex questions about communities, families, our environment and the economy that single datasets cannot answer. Combining datasets results in a more complete, informed picture.
For example, data integration has helped improve outcomes in sensitive areas such as hospital admissions, contact with the justice system, and child abuse and protection.
Preserving privacy and confidentiality
The DIPA will only use data for statistical and research purposes to help better understand patterns and trends, not individuals. It will not be used for enforcement or compliance purposes.
The datasets created under the DIPA will preserve the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of businesses by removing any identifying information (such as names or addresses) when a new dataset is created.
The DIPA will comply with the Privacy Act 1988. Data provided by participating agencies will also be governed by that agencies’ legislation. For example, the DIPA can only use data collected by the ABS under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 under the terms of that legislation.
Keeping data safe and secure
All DIPA agencies are required to take all reasonable steps to keep data safe.
Two Australian Government agencies will be integrating data for the DIPA. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) are Accredited Integrating Authorities and are permitted to carry out data integration projects involving sensitive data. Accreditation provides assurance that data integration is undertaken safely and securely. Other organisations, including non-government organisations, may apply to be Accredited Integrating Authorities.
Accredited Integrating Authorities may only conduct data integration activities within secure environments. The new datasets created for the DIPA are only accessible by trusted users within the secure environments.
For more information on the ABS and AIHW’s security measures and safe data management practices, please visit:
- ABS’ Accredited Integrating Authority application summary; and
- AIHW’s Accredited Integrating Authority application summary.
Enquiries
We would love to chat with you. For further information on the DIPA, please contact the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at datapolicy@pmc.gov.au.