Applying the Open Data Principles

The NSW Open Data Policy establishes six core principles that guide the release and management of government data. This section outlines these principles and translates them into practical actions for agencies to implement.

Early morning sunrise high angle aerial drone view of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a catholic church, and the historic outback mining town of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

Overview

Before commencing the open data publishing process, agencies should establish both the foundational governance structure and implement the core operational principles that will guide their open data program.

Governance and Role Assignment

Assign Key Roles: All required roles must be formally assigned and documented before beginning the open data publishing process. The assignment of these roles should be approved by an appropriate executive within the agency and documented within the agency's existing organisational structure and governance framework.

Complete Training: All personnel involved in the open data publishing process should complete the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) eLearning Module on Open Data, available at:

https://elearning.ipc.nsw.gov.au/

Establish Core Operational Framework

Data Classification and Inventory (Principle 1 - Open by Default):

Create comprehensive dataset inventory with default "open" classification
Implement structured sensitivity assessment processes
Schedule quarterly reviews of protected datasets

Metadata and Documentation Standards (Principle 2 - Prioritised, Discoverable, Usable):

Adopt standardised metadata using Data.NSW specifications
Develop data dictionaries with comprehensive field definitions
Implement Schema.org markup for enhanced discoverability

Publishing Schedule and Data Quality (Principles 3 & 4 - Primary, Timely, Well Managed):

Establish data release calendar with clear timeframes and refresh schedules
Create Data Quality Statement templates and collection methodology documentation
Implement quality checks and user feedback mechanisms before publication
Ensure appropriate granularity levels and creation/collection timestamps

Access and Pricing Framework (Principle 5 - Free Access Where Appropriate):

Commit to publishing general-purpose datasets at no cost
Define API access tiers (free/paid) and transparent cost-recovery models
Establish clear pricing schedules and annual charging decision reviews

Community Engagement Process (Principle 6 - Subject to Public Input):

Set up public data request forms and user testing processes for formats
Plan 30-day feedback periods and biannual consultation workshops

After these foundational elements are established and documented, agencies should proceed with the actual data publishing process.