Check if the data you want is already open to the public. The first place to begin is the NSW Open Data Portal, to view the NSW government agency data portals, visit the browse page. 

Explain clearly why you need the data. The Data Sharing (Government Sector) Act 2015 sets out the permitted purposes for agencies to share data. It says agencies can share data in order to:

• Support the making of good policy
• Improve or support program management
• Enable effective service planning and delivery 

• To help data custodians know what data you need, make a list or construct a spreadsheet. Provide a summary of the types of data fields you might need. For example, to help with service planning, do you need information about frequency of delivery, service types or locations? Be specific, as this helps data custodians to understand and process your request.
• Check that your requested data meets the requirements under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PPIP Act) and the Health Records and Information Act (HRIP Act). In most cases the Data Sharing Act does not allow health, sensitive, or personally identifiable information to be shared. If you think you may need personally identifying information, you should talk to the data custodian about whether safeguards can be applied. 

When you are ready to make your data sharing request:

• Directly contact the agency who holds the data you need via their website
• If they have a specific data sharing request form, use this to make your request
• Some data is governed by ethics approvals. The data custodian will be able to advise on this. Make sure your request aligns with the approved ethics protocol and consent forms for the original data collection.

Each agency’s GIPA Act team can also provide advice on who to contact for data sharing requests. 

Once your request is received, the agency will:  

• Review your application and discuss any concerns with you
• Discuss any costs for data provision and access, which should be documented in the data sharing agreement
• If approved, agree on the terms and conditions for the sharing of data. 

Check if the data you want is already open to the public. The first place to begin is the NSW Open Data Portal, to view the NSW government agency data portals, visit the browse page. 

Under the NSW Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 you may request data directly from an agency without a formal access application, the agency will inform you if a formal application is needed.

Information can be released in response to an informal request (Clause 8 of the GIPA Act), unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. Agencies can decide how the information is released and can impose conditions on the release. such as access or use.

For further information on informal data requests see: Informal release of information.

If the information required cannot be released informally, you will need to make a formal access application to the relevant Department under the NSW Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009

For a list of Departmental contacts see here: Request access to information under the GIPA Act | NSW Government.