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Data.NSW

Strategy roadmap

 
Draft content

The NSW Data Strategy roadmap shows how we will keep the strategy up to date and aligned to the NSW Government’s vision. Elements of the strategy, such as commitments and case studies, will help measure the progress of data transformation across NSW. The NSW Data Leadership Group oversees implementation of the Strategy.

On this page, we have outlined the plan for making sure the NSW Data Strategy remains relevant to the rapidly changing data landscape. This plan is broken up into ‘horizons’ that demonstrate what we will do and when.

The plan includes:

  1. Monitoring and evaluating the status and impact of Strategy commitments
  2. A major review and update of the Strategy in 18-24 months to reflect new data Department strategies, technologies and trends.

To further demonstrate progress on the strategy, we will track and measure the progress of commitments every year.

Horizon 1 - Commencing Year 2025-2026 
Data Priority OutcomesRelated Commitment

Cross-sector data policies are current, clear, succinct and aligned  

1 Review and refresh data policies and standards, starting with the Open Data Policy  

It is easier for community users to find, access and use open data     

2 Expand, enhance and standardise the open data offering on Data.NSW  Open Data Portal    

Increased efficiency and consistency in spatial and downstream datasets    

3 Embed the Foundation Spatial Data Framework 

Better insights are available about the lives of people with disability   

6 NSW delivers on its commitments to national data reform initiatives including National Disability Data Asset and Australian National Integration Infrastructure 

Make data sharing and collaboration easier and more efficient   

8 Embed a cross-sector interconnected data system to inform government priorities   

Increased data sharing, use and comparability across agencies   

18 Adopt common, interoperable data standards for use across agencies and their contractors     

Increase in consistency and streamlined use of government platforms, assets and services  

19 Increase use of cross-sector data governance and management tools, including Metadata.NSW and Data Passport, and adoption of State Digital Assets, including NSW Spatial Digital Twin 

Data maturity uplift is measured. Information is available to inform maturity uplift initiatives. 

20 Measure and report on data maturity across the sector   

Data maturity increases across the sector   

21 Share practice guides and capability resources to uplift data maturity  

Opportunities identified for increased consistency in data governance 

22 Evaluate the appropriateness of the spatial data governance framework for use in other domains     

Reduced cost to government    

25 Coordinate procurement of data governance and management platforms and tools 

Clarity of skill and knowledge requirements for data professionals and non-data roles   

26 Define an Occupation Specific Capability Set for data professionals and data-related capabilities for non-technical roles     

Consistency and clarity across agencies that will promote data collaboration   

29 Develop a shared understanding of Chief Data Officer functions and embed the functions across agencies   

Improved understanding of data needs and how they can be met   

31 Increase coordination and engagement between data leaders and policy leaders to identify and deliver on information needs   

Increase in availability and use of data for decision-making   

32 Identify and implement initiatives that build data driven decision-making culture 

Horizon 2 - Commencing Year 2026-2027
Data Priority OutcomesRelated Commitment

Increased access and use of data by Aboriginal people to address community needs   

5 Deliver NSW Closing the Gap Priority Reform 4 in collaboration with the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO)   

Data linking is more efficient     

7 Enhance interoperability and coordination of state and national datasets and infrastructure 

 
 

Government has a holistic view of performance and trends in community wellbeing   

9 Agencies regularly report on Performance and Wellbeing Framework metrics via the Data.NSW Open Data Portal  

All new data initiatives contribute to meeting the information needs of whole of government, agencies and/or communities 

10 Data initiatives and proposal's identity how they meet the information needs of service-system or agency specific, whole-of-government, or community and place-based 

Clarity on need for regulatory change   

12 Monitor and assess the regulatory environment for data privacy and sharing, and assess the need for regulatory change    

Reduce duplication and support interoperability 

Identify opportunities to leverage existing data architecture solutions to reduce duplication and support interoperability 

Cross-sector uplift in foundational data literacy   

27 Build foundational data literacy and other skill building programs  

Duplication of effort is reduced, and resources are easy to access   

28 Share knowledge, expertise and resources across the sector via NSW Data Leadership Group 

Uplift in data skills of senior executives that improves data culture   

30 Identify opportunities for Senior Executive Data Leadership training    

Increase in alignment to digital reform priorities delivers a more streamlined process and user experience 

33 Data initiatives align to digital reform program 

Horizon 3 - Commencing Year 2027-2028 
Data Priority OutcomesRelated Commitment

Increased capability in engaging with communities on data approaches 

4 Build capability in engaging communities on data governance, access and use   

Strategies for safer data sharing identified 

11 Explore privacy enhancing technologies that make data sharing safer 

Transparency and trust built with community    

 

13 Inform the community about how government uses, manages and protects data     

Social licence building and testing mechanisms are identified  

14 Explore approaches to building and testing social licence   

Government data is more inclusive of NSW citizens regardless of abilities, backgrounds or identities 

Develop and adopt cross-sector inclusion by design practices 

Reduced duplication of effort and increased proactive planning     

 

16 Collectively develop a cross-sector plan and register of use cases to leverage emerging technologies   

Clarity on requirements for AI data practice    

17 The NSW AI strategy sets the direction for data management practices that support safe and ethical use of AI   

 

24 Recommend an approach to cross-sector investment in people, infrastructure and resources that enable data capability, capacity and quality uplift   

We will measure and track progress of commitments 

Key activities

  • The commitments published as part of the NSW Data Strategy will be measured and tracked.
  • We will review and update the NSW Data Strategy within 18-24 months of this Strategy’s release to align with significant changes in the data landscape.
  • If you’re working on a major data related initiative or reform that you believe should be included in the strategy, we would love to hear from you at datansw@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.