Annual Priorities 2025-26
1. Facilitate data sharing
Our primary focus remains on facilitating data sharing to increase the availability and use of public data to deliver public benefit. We are committed to supporting eligible entities use the DATA Scheme to achieve program, policy, and research and development outcomes for public benefit.
The statutory review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 (the Act) aims to assess the effectiveness and impact of the Act since its implementation and to identify any areas for improvement to the operation of the Act to better facilitate data sharing and accessibility. We welcome the statutory review. We will continue to make contributions to support the work of the statutory review.
We will continue to work closely with Scheme participants to make requests under the Scheme, and with data custodians to respond to requests in a timely and positive manner. We have established our formal advice function and will use this function to provide greater regulatory certainty for participants engaging with the DATA Scheme.
We will support and guide eligible entities on using the DATA Scheme. Using the lessons and experience we have gained through the National Disability Data Asset, we will pursue new use cases where the Scheme can benefit other projects of national significance and contribute to positive impacts for Australian communities. We will continue to focus on the adoption of best practice tools and processes for public sector data sharing, including with those who are not eligible entities under the DATA Scheme. This includes using Dataplace to make and manage data sharing requests to standardise data sharing using the Scheme’s best practices.
We are committed to expanding the sharing of public data, including through continuous improvement of our own processes and products. We take a user-centric approach to drive improvements by seeking feedback on our administration of the DATA Scheme and actively engaging with complaints.
2. Continue to build the trusted data community
We are committed to increasing the recognition and value of accreditation under the DATA Scheme both for Scheme participants and data users that may interact with the DATA Scheme. DATA Scheme accreditation reflects best practices for data handling and can be applied to other data sharing arrangements. As our trusted data community continues to grow, we will maintain a contemporary and robust accreditation framework.
DATA Scheme accreditation signifies a commitment and adherence to best practices in data sharing and handling. Accreditation enhances the credibility of users and service providers and fosters trust with data custodians and the Australian public. It is a key safeguard for the safe sharing of public data and can be relied upon for any data sharing, not only sharing within the DATA Scheme. We will continue to expand participation of the DATA Scheme by encouraging and supporting eligible entities to apply for accreditation, targeting a broader range of eligible entities beyond the initial group of Commonwealth, state and territory, and university entities that are already accredited.
We are committed to supporting eligible entities in applying for accreditation, ensuring our processes are clear and streamlined, and to maintaining our record of assessing applications within our service level standards. We continue to raise awareness about the DATA Scheme through our facilitative posture, education and engagement program and communications products. We provide a trusted service and continue to promote our best practice tools and systems.
3. Promote adherence to Scheme requirements
We continue to take a facilitative and enabling approach to our regulatory functions, with an emphasis on supporting safe data sharing to strengthen services and outcomes for Australian public.
In step with the increased activity under the DATA Scheme, we will actively monitor and assess the conduct and data sharing practices of Scheme participants. As Scheme activity grows, maintaining the Scheme’s integrity is paramount. Our active monitoring includes an increased focus on the timeliness and sufficiency of responses by data custodians to data sharing requests, and on minimising the likelihood and impact of data breaches through adherence to accreditation and data sharing requirements.
4. Educate and guide on best practice
To build trust in the use of public sector data within eligible entities and the broader Australian public, we are committed to strengthening data handling and sharing across the Australian Public Service and delivering best practice institutional arrangements and transparency in data sharing.
We will continue to produce guidance, educational materials and hold information sessions to build the capability and data maturity of Scheme participants. We will continue to develop our guidance on the DATA Scheme. We will increase our focus on targeted, tailored products to support particular cohorts to provide clarity on specific matters as they work through the data sharing process. We are available to assist Scheme Participants request advice from the National Data Commissioner on how the Scheme applies to them, or how it would apply in particular circumstances. This will provide additional assurance as more varied and diverse data sharing requests emerge. We will also continue to ensure our office is staffed with the right mix of expertise to fulfill our role as a facilitative regulator.
We will continue to guide and educate Scheme participants and others in best practice data handling and sharing. This includes encouraging the use of the Scheme’s best practices when sharing public sector data, even when entities cannot or do not need to rely on the Act to authorise data sharing.
We will build on our work to date with Australian Government agencies to include their data inventories in our searchable Australian Government Data Catalogue. We will continue to refine and promote Dataplace so it guides Scheme participants and others to apply consistent and best data sharing practices, making sharing more efficient and aligned with the best practice principles of the Act.