PLIDA Strategy

In the Australian data landscape, PLIDA is a leading person-centred integrated data asset. By fostering collaboration and shared understanding of insights, PLIDA maximises the value of data to improve the lives of Australians while keeping data safe.

PLIDA evolves to meet the emerging research and statistical needs of the Australian community and aligns with whole of government data initiatives.

The Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA) is a well-established and highly valued data asset that brings together information to provide whole of life insights about Australia.

PLIDA is enabled through a partnership between government agencies which are responsible for its operation and strategic direction. PLIDA promotes collaboration across agencies with an aim to reduce burden and make better use of existing information.

PLIDA securely combines a wide range of data to create efficiencies by linking information together once, for use many times over, leveraging existing data holdings, systems, partnerships, and insights.

PLIDA enables complex analysis of data that is otherwise not able to be brought together. PLIDA includes data about health, education, government payments, income and taxation, employment, and population demographics over time for statistical and research purposes.

PLIDA can be linked to other data assets such as business data in BLADE, or other research domains to enhance the evidence base available to researchers.

PLIDA data generates new insights for government, academic and policy research. PLIDA data is used to look at patterns and trends in the Australian community and provide evidence to inform:

• policy and program delivery research and evaluation
• the production of national statistics 
• an understanding of the characteristics of the Australian population

Trust in government use of data is integral to ensuring the quality of data in PLIDA. PLIDA takes a 'privacy by design' approach to the use and handling of information about the community. The ABS takes steps to ensure that information is not released in a way that is likely to enable an individual to be identified.

PLIDA informs decision-making for policies and programs that have real-world effects for Australians.

PLIDA is a powerful tool for informing government decision making due to its unique breadth and coverage.

PLIDA provides the ability to integrate with other datasets in a safe and secure environment, while allowing custodians to maintain control of their data.

PLIDA makes better use of information that has already been collected. By combining administrative datasets, survey datasets and the Australian Census, PLIDA enhances the value of existing public data resources.

PLIDA makes a wider range of data accessible to individuals, organisations and academics to inform research in secure access settings.

PLIDA supports decisions that will help Australians live healthier, happier and more independent lives, while keeping their information safe.

• Achieve strategic asset growth, bringing in new data
• Improve understanding of existing data holdings and identify opportunities to unlock additional potential
• Promote sustainable use of data and insights, reducing duplication
• Create efficiencies through shared knowledge and methods
• Development and promotion of standard products

• As a unique and vital part of the Australian data landscape, PLIDA will lead and drive change to enable adaptive and contemporary data assets
• Strategic decisions about PLIDA are shaped by cross agency collaboration in alignment with whole of government data initiatives

• Consider the end-to-end user experience
• Work with data users to maximise the efficiency of data for their research
• Build and maintain effective data custodian partnerships
• Promote consultation and engagement with the community about uses of PLIDA data

Build and maintain trust of the Australian community in government data use by:

• being transparent about the data in PLIDA , its use and handling
• ensuring security and safety of data
• promoting ethical use of data about people in Australia, especially vulnerable groups
• adhering to legislation, regulations and standards

User experience will be prioritised when considering changes and enhancements to the PLIDA asset:

• Improve speed to insight
• Explore tools that will help deliver responsiveness from PLIDA 
• Encourage increased data sharing through the Data Access and Transparency (DAT) Scheme

PLIDA will grow through the addition of new data:

• Ensure data that is linked to PLIDA will be as recent as practicable (currency)
• Prioritise data linkages in accordance with whole-of-government support, public benefit, and funding
• Align decisions to expand PLIDA with whole-of-government data initiatives to increase the national research base
• Enable opportunities for states and territories to link in with Commonwealth data

PLIDA data will be used responsibly and for the benefit of all Australians while ensuring privacy is upheld:

• Maintain a 'privacy by design' approach and implement the recommendations from PLIDA Privacy Impact Assessments
• Promote ethical use of data, particularly in relation to vulnerable groups
• Champion an increased understanding of data and its uses
• Ensure high quality data and meaningful analysis
• Promote data efficiencies, including knowledge sharing and reuse of data

PLIDA infrastructure will develop in line with new technologies and systems, and provide scalable and secure environments:

• Improve usability by providing cloud environments
• Explore shared technology options
• Ensure a focus on the user-experience in onboarding to new systems and/or technologies