Overview

Realisation of the Strategy will deliver benefits to government, agencies and the community.

It will allow government to:

• Improve social outcomes through easier access to timely and more holistic insights
• Deliver local solutions to local issues by working with data in partnership with communities
• Increase productivity through streamlined data management approaches and leveraging new technologies
• Reduce expenditure through cross-sector collaboration, economies of scale and reduced duplication of effort
• Build trust in government’s data use by ensuring privacy, safe and ethical data use and transparency in data practices.

Agencies will benefit from:

• Better data sharing for more holistic insights, positioning NSW for maximum benefit from its data assets and national data reform initiatives
• Increased data workforce capability through shared knowledge and expertise, lifting sector-wide data maturity to enable delivery of government priorities and people-centred outcomes
• Cost saving from cross sector collaboration, with increased efficiency and interoperability in data infrastructure and functions
• Reduced duplication of effort to make data shared and accessible
• Simpler, more streamlined systems and proactive planning for ethical use of data and new technologies, equipping NSW to keep pace with the rapidly evolving data and technology landscape.

Communities will benefit from:

• Accessing and using data relevant to them, safely and responsibly, including a broader range of open data
• Increased transparency and trust by understanding how government uses, manages and protects data
• Enhanced understanding of their needs through Government’s improved data quality and linkage, providing more accurate and holistic insights
• Improved community outcomes resulting from Government’s better use of data

The NSW Data Strategy works in concert with the NSW Digital Strategy¹ and NSW Artificial Intelligence Strategy². Together, these strategies set out the pathway for a strong, agile and inclusive data and digital future for NSW.

The Strategy was developed with the information needs of three distinct but interrelated audiences. Each of these audiences collects, uses and shares information for different purposes and priorities, and each operates in a unique context with its own challenges and opportunities.

1. Agencies: primarily collect service delivery and administrative data relevant to the portfolio and generates insights to meet operational and performance measurement needs
2. Cross-sector/whole-of-government: create joined-up data to provide a richer, holistic view that is essential to address government priorities and support cross-agency initiatives; connect with national and cross-jurisdictional governments to improve national data practices
3. Communities: enhance understanding of the data, work to improve community outcomes with better access to data and engagement government on data governance and use

The seamless flow of information between these audiences can be hindered by differences in data quality, standards and systems, as well as complex and varied data governance practices and access requirements. Building interoperability and connection between each audience enhances the depth and breadth of insights that can be drawn from data assets, enabling a fuller view of complex issues, the needs of communities and impactful solutions.

The Strategy has been designed to facilitate and increase engagement across audiences to deliver fit-for-purpose data and insights across audiences. It is laid out in a set of focus areas, missions and guiding principles.

The Strategy is centred around five focus areas – each representing an overarching outcome the Strategy seeks to achieve. Each focus area has an associated mission statement, directions and a set of commitments.

A set of guiding concepts and principles were used to develop this Strategy. These concepts and principles were informed by research including jurisdictional and legislative reviews, stakeholder consultation, and a data maturity assessment.

The Strategy’s Missions, Directions, and Commitments are all shaped by and aligned to these principles.

The guiding principles and concepts are:

1. Data-driven decision making delivers better outcomes for our people and communities
2. Data is at the heart of government’s decision-making
3. Safety, privacy and ethics are fundamental to all data practices
4. Trust in government’s use of data is built by transparency and accountability.
5. A ‘tell once, build once, use often’ approach is efficient, leverages value from data resources and delivers a better customer experience
6. Engaging with communities about their data results in better insights and better outcomes
7. Consistency, coordination and resource sharing across government builds data capability, capacity and maturity
8. Shared goals, collaborative leadership and mutually reinforcing activities across agencies result in better data and better insights.

The Strategy is accompanied by a selection of case studies. They showcase how government’s advanced data practices are already supporting and shaping the delivery of critical government services and priorities.

The Strategy Roadmap provides an overview of how the Strategy will be implemented. It articulates the lead and partner NSW Government agency for each commitment, its priority and benefit.

The progress and impact of the Strategy will be measured as it is implemented. A monitoring and evaluation plan will ensure government agencies can track progress against the commitments, monitor the impact of their initiatives, and demonstrate tangible outcomes to stakeholders and the community.