Definitions of terms related to the NSW Data Strategy are listed below. If you need assistance or would like to add a definition, please contact us at datansw@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Term | Definition |
Agency | An agency is a NSW Government entity including a Department, authority, office or commission as defined by the Government Sector Employment Act – see also Schedule 1 of the GSE Act. |
Artificial intelligence (AI) | A computer system's ability to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and making decisions. |
AI assessment framework | A framework designed to enable agencies to evaluate the risk associated with an AI solution and understand the required mitigations. |
Australian National Data Integration Infrastructure (ANDII) | The underlying system that supports the National Disability Data Asset including infrastructure data hosting, data transfer and sharing arrangements and system governance |
Chief Cyber Security Officer | A senior-level executive who leads and coordinates cross-sector cyber security capability and providing strategic advice to the NSW government to support greater resilience to cyber security threats, both for government and the NSW community. |
Chief Data Officer | A senior-level executive from each Department who leads and champions data use and sharing across NSW Government. |
Chief Information Officer | A senior-level executive who is responsible for leading and overseeing their agency's strategic information management and technology function and related business activities, staff, resources and systems. |
Commitments | Commitments are published actions NSW Government agencies have agreed to work on in the defined timeframe. Each Mission in the Strategy has associated commitments that work towards achieving an overarching outcome. Commitments are typically large pieces of data work which will impact more than one agency and deliver outcomes for the Mission. |
Community | A group of people who live in a shared location or “place”. |
Community Group | A group formed around shared characteristics or shared experiences, or a combination of both. |
Cross-sector | Across the NSW Government’s agencies and other entities, such as an authority, office or commission. |
Data | Data refers to individual pieces of information or facts collected for analysis, processing, or reference. Data can be in various forms, such as numbers, text, images, or sound, and is used to make decisions, conduct research, or generate insights. |
Data architecture | Defines the information flows in an organisation, including how data is captured, stored, and integrated into other platforms across the organisation. |
Data assets | A data asset is a structured collection of data developed for a broad purpose. An enduring data asset (or enduring linked data asset) is a subset of this category, denoting a larger range of data that is designed for potentially many purposes and users. An example of this is the NSW Human Services Data Set. A data asset could also include models, methodologies and algorithms. |
Data capability | The data specific knowledge, skills and behaviours required when working with data. |
Data Champions Network | A community of practice that brings people together from across NSW Government to build data capability and share knowledge |
Data culture | An organisational culture that values data as an asset and where data is managed and used effectively on a day-to-day basis. |
Data domains | Data that is grouped based on business context, concept or other high-level commonality, such as customer data or product data. |
Data governance | For the purposes of this Strategy, data governance refers to the design and implementation of a set of policies, processes, structures, roles and responsibilities to ensure that data is managed effectively, safely and ethically and that it can meet its current and future business requirements. See also ‘Data management’ |
Data infrastructure | The physical hardware and software-based technologies that enable digital systems and services, such as networks, servers and database. |
Data literacy | The knowledge, skills and dispositions to use data ethically to inform policies, decisions and practices. |
Data management | For the purposes of this Strategy, data management refers to the activities involved with managing data across the full data value chain so that it is protected from unauthorised use and inappropriate deletion. Data needs to be appropriately managed from procurement or service design through to creation and final disposal. This includes protection of personal, health and sensitive information, and the prevention of deletion until enabled by legal authorisation. Note: The terms ‘data governance’ and ‘data management’ are sometimes used interchangeably or with one defined as a subset of the other. |
Data maturity | A measure of how well organisations manage and use data to make decisions. |
Data maturity domains | Data maturity domains represent the broad functions and capabilities within an agency that relate to data, such as governance, quality, or security. By evaluating these areas, agencies can identify strengths and areas for development in their data management practices and prioritise improvement efforts. |
Data products | Any tool or application or resource that assists with data access and/or use. |
Data professionals | People who deliver specialised data functions (see Diagram 5). |
Data quality | Generally meaning “fitness for purpose”. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Data Quality Framework contains seven characteristics of quality: institutional environment, relevance, timeliness, accuracy, coherence, interpretability and accessibility. Data quality is evaluated in terms of how well the characteristics of the data meet the needs or objectives of a user. |
Data security | Protecting information from unauthorised access, theft, or damage. It involves measures like encryption and secure passwords to make sure that sensitive data stays safe and secure. |
Data systems | The people, policies, processes, workflows, functions and infrastructure that support and facilitate the use of data in Government. |
Data value chain | The processes, systems of governance, engagement and expertise that surround how data is used and managed. |
Dataset | A description of a record of data, including any location or time boundaries for the data that has been captured and is available for use under a specific licence. |
Department | A specialised unit within a government responsible for overseeing specific areas of public policy, administration, and services. Each Department focuses on a particular function or sector, such as health, education, or transportation, and operates under the direction of a government Minister or official. |
Digital Reform Program | A cross-agency approach to addressing critical risks and enabling new opportunities in digital. |
Disability | Includes long-term physical, mental health, intellectual, neurological or sensory differences which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, may hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. |
Enterprise Data Catalogue | An organised, searchable inventory of an organisation's data assets. It contains metadata, such as data descriptions, lineage and quality information, enabling data discovery and understanding. It provides a single source of truth, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical users. |
Evaluation | A rigorous, systematic and objective process to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and impact of services, programs or interventions. |
Framework | A structure or set of guidelines that provides an approach to solve problems or complete tasks. |
Frontline worker | An employee who interacts directly with the community, often in sectors like healthcare, education, or emergency services. They are typically the first point of contact and play a crucial role in delivering services and support, and are often responsible for data collection. |
Generative AI | An emerging field within AI that creates new content such as text, images, voice, video, and code by learning from data patterns. |
Human Services | Programs, facilities or services provided to meet the health, welfare and social needs of individuals, families and communities. |
Inclusion by design | Proactively considering and addressing potential biases and inequalities throughout the entire data lifecycle to ensure it is representative, equitable and useful for all, including marginalised groups. |
Indigenous data | Information or knowledge, in any format or medium, which is about and may affect Indigenous peoples both collectively and individually. |
Indigenous data governance | The right of Indigenous peoples to autonomously decide what, how and why Indigenous Data are collected, accessed and used. It ensures that data on or about Indigenous peoples reflects their priorities, values, cultures, worldviews and diversity. |
Interoperability | The ability of different agencies or systems to work together and exchange information seamlessly. It ensures that various technologies and infrastructure can operate and communicate with each other effectively. |
Insights | Meaningful and actionable findings emerging from data analysis that can be leveraged to optimise decision-making processes. |
Investment in data | Allocating resources, such as money or time, to technologies and data-related tools to improve or expand capabilities, efficiency, or the economy. This can include investments in software, infrastructure and other data-related initiatives. |
Linked data | Data which has been brought together from different sources and joined-up to create a new, richer dataset. |
Machine readable format | Data that is formatted to allow machines to process it, such as CSV (comma separated values) which is a simple format for tabular data. |
Metadata | Data or information that describes, defines and adds meaning to other data, to support its interpretation. |
National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) | A data asset that will bring together comprehensive information from the Commonwealth and states and territories, to gain better insights into how people with disability live. |
National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) Council | A council representing government and disability communities. It has 6 representatives, 3 are government representatives and 3 are disability community members who to ensure that the NDDA is used only to the benefit of people with disability. |
NSW AI Assessment Framework | A self-assessment tool to help agencies assess AI risk in their digital projects. |
NSW Artificial Intelligence Strategy | A cross-sector Government AI strategy that is focused on improved service delivery and government decision-making. |
NSW Data Leadership Group (NDLG) | A group of Chief Data Officers that drives collective effort to accelerate sharing of quality data and insights to inform decision-making that delivers better outcomes. |
NSW Data Strategy | A cross-sector Government data strategy that gives direction to agencies to facilitate government priorities and outcomes for the community. |
NSW Digital Strategy | A cross-sector Government digital strategy that gives direction to agencies to facilitate government priorities and outcomes for the community. |
NSW Foundation Spatial Data Framework | A system for standardising, organising and sharing spatial data. It consists of approximately 300 datasets and provides the basis for improved consistency and sharing of spatial data. |
Open data | The proactive or on demand release of data or insights for public use, in any form and through any channel, with approval from the data custodian/owner prior to its release. It is provided by governments for general use to support public sector accountability, encourage innovation and to achieve broad community benefits. |
Outcomes | The changes that occur for individuals, groups, families or communities during or after participation in a program or intervention. Outcomes can be a change in attitudes, values, behaviours or conditions. |
Personal data | Information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database and whether or not in a recorded form) about an individual whose identity is apparent or can be reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion. |
Personal and sensitive data | Information which is considered sensitive. Examples include an individual’s personal details, credit information, medical records, drivers licence information, criminal records, biometric information, and other personal details. |
Place-based | Ways of working that put communities at the centre. |
Policy | A set of guidelines or rules that govern the use, management, and security of data within government. It ensures that data practices align with legal standards and best practices. |
Program | A set of activities managed together over a sustained period of time that aims to deliver outcomes for clients. |
Research | The systematic process of the collection and analysis of data and information to examine relevant issues and yield evidence for better program and policy advice. |
Roadmap | A plan which outlines the expected sequence for the delivery of the outcomes identified through the Strategy. |
Safe data practice | A set of practices and procedures designed to help identify and manage data sharing risks. The 'Five Safes Framework' is an internationally recognised risk management model to mitigate the risks of disclosure. It consists of five 'safety' dimensions: people, projects, settings, output and data. The Five Safes Framework is used in the NSW Government to formed the basis of data protection governance, policy and guidance. |
Shared data | Data that may be accessed by or transferred across government agencies, or with trusted third parties.
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Smart Places | Smart Places are where the physical and digital environments converge. They integrate technologies into the built environment to capture and convey data and insights. |
Social licence | An ongoing commitment for community acceptance and approval that must be constantly renewed through active, broad-based community engagement. |
Spatial data | The shape and location of features and boundaries such as natural features, buildings, survey marks, land parcels, street addresses and local government and administrative boundary areas. |
State Digital Asset | State Digital Assets (SDA) are digital platforms, services or data that are used by more than one NSW Government agency. They are the building blocks for NSW to provide proactive, customised, and seamless services to our customers. |
Technology | Electronic tools and systems that use digital data and processes, such as computers, smartphones, and the internet, to create, store, and manage information. It includes software, hardware, and networks that support various digital and data functions and applications. |
User | End consumer of a data or information resource; those who use data or information for reference, or as input to solve problems and/or make decisions. |
Wellbeing | The extent to which a person has a high quality of life, can achieve desired outcomes in life and can contribute to society. Wellbeing is multidimensional, capturing all important aspects of life: mental and physical health, economic and social wellbeing and liveability. |