- New linked data platform
- PeopleWA - to streamline data and information across Government services to
benefit all Western Australians
- PeopleWA connects
de-identified data from the departments of Communities, Education, Health,
Justice and the Western Australia Police Force
- Will provide a
secure e-research environment for approved government agencies, researchers and
non-profit organisations
Up to 75 million unique records containing
current and archival data have been linked for the first time as part of a new
data linkage platform. Launched today, PeopleWA will revolutionise the way
researchers access data, helping to address the State's most complex social,
health, environmental and economic issues.
PeopleWA brings together de-identified data
from across government services in a way that protects individual privacy,
providing a richer understanding of the community impacts of government
decisions, services, and programs over time.
The
Office of Digital Government and the Department of Health will govern the data
linkage in a safe, privacy-preserving environment.
New
datasets will be added to PeopleWA each year to ensure data linkage continues
to meet changing policy and research needs.
PeopleWA is protected by international best
practice for transparent data governance, safeguards for personal and sensitive
information, and robust cyber security controls. It has also been designed to
comply with the anticipated requirements of the Western Australian Government's
future Privacy and Responsible Information
Sharing legislation.
Access is limited to approved purposes and
is provided via a secure, monitored e-research platform. Applications for access
to PeopleWA undergo a rigorous ethics and approval process and are assessed
against the Five Safes, a global best practice framework for responsible
information sharing.
The linked data asset is delivered via $8
million funding from the WA Government's Digital Capability Fund.
PeopleWA was developed in response to
recommendations made by Chief Scientist of Western Australia Professor Peter
Klinken AC, who led a data linkage review with the research, non-profit and
public sectors.
Comments attributed to Innovation and the
Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The sheer volume of data linked in
PeopleWA is incredible. This data will allow the State Government, researchers
and non-profit organisations to make better informed policy and strategy
decisions.
"This linkage allows us
to gain insights across government departments that were previously difficult
to access and uncover, such as the relationships between Health and Education outcomes.
"The Cook Government is excited to see the
research that is made possible by this platform, which we are confident will
deliver great benefits for the Western Australian public."
Comments attributed to Chief Scientist of
Western Australia Professor Peter Klinken AC:
"Western Australia has a long history of
data linkage, and PeopleWA will help enhance community outcomes by placing data
at the forefront of the decision-making and research.
"PeopleWA sets the stage for Western
Australia's next chapter of data linkage, ensuring the continuous availability
of interconnected health and human services data. It will equip us to
effectively address evolving challenges facing our community."
Comments attributed to the WA Government's
Chief Information Officer Greg Italiano:
"PeopleWA is the result of a genuine
collaboration between WA government agencies to deliver a powerful data asset
that enables targeted and strategic investment in government programs and
services.
"The WA community will benefit from
PeopleWA's capability to enable evidence-based government decision-making and
improve service delivery."
