NSW developing data sharing template tool

A new tool is under development for NSW Government agencies to use to create fit-for-purpose data sharing agreements.

The tool, being developed by the Data Analytics Centre’s Program and Practice Team, aims to address the prevalence of inconsistent processes and data sharing rules that are inhibiting appropriate data sharing across government.

A fast-track prototype has been developed and is now being tested with data users across government.

The state’s government agencies are governed by more than 500 different rules, laws and regulations that restrict access to data. This has led to agencies taking a default position of refusing requests for data to be shared, even when it would be of great benefit to the community.

One of the biggest barriers to data sharing is the arduous process of developing data sharing agreements, which can currently take between months and years to execute.

The new tool will seek to simplify and streamline the process for developing cross-government data sharing agreements, by reducing confusion around data sharing and decreasing the time and effort required to execute agreements.

It will also aim to increase auditability by creating a centralised digital history of the agreement.

It will ask both the data recipient and data provider some simple questions about the ‘where, why, what, who, how and when’ of the data to be shared, which is then used to generate an editable agreement accessible only to the two parties.

The tool also includes questions designed to strengthen the security of data sharing arrangements by incorporating protections based on the internationally recognised ‘Five Safes’ data sharing risk management framework.

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