Operating context

The ABS operates in a complex digital environment, where ageing systems and a large portfolio of legacy technology continue to support many critical business and statistical functions, creating growing sustainability, cost and cyber security challenges. The ABS has made significant progress in the areas of cloud adoption, establishing whole-of-government integrated data and digital platforms and modernising data acquisition, process and analysis and dissemination functions. Through government funded modernisation programs the ABS has taken the next critical steps to deliver a more sustainable digital first model for ABS surveys and built core enterprise capabilities. The ABS has onboarded a few surveys to these capabilities as test cases for wider reuse in statistical production. Despite significant progress, the ABS still has a large portfolio of legacy ICT that continues to underpin most of our core functions. These legacy systems increasingly add costs and cyber risk to ABS business operations. 

The ABS’ IT strategy is anchored around a 10-year modernisation plan that will replace legacy ICT and ensure secure, modern and reliable ICT services, while ensuring the ABS takes more advantage of the data we collect and how modern technology can support more efficient operations.

To address this, the ABS is focused on enterprise-led modernisation, aligned to enterprise priorities and the Data and Digital Government Strategy. This includes modernising not only legacy ICT systems and infrastructure, but also the business services and processes that depend on them. This ensures new technology is supported by capability uplift and translates into more contemporary, efficient business operations that meet evolving user needs. 

The ABS will continue to focus on providing mature digital services and products and simplifying and consolidating on our strategic enterprise platforms. This includes the Scaled Analytical Data Environment (SADE) as the core enterprise data and analytics platform; Secure Environment for Analysing Data (SEAD) and DataLab as whole of government platforms enabling secure access to microdata; a platform for whole of government data integration functions through the Australian National Data Integration Infrastructure (ANDII); and contemporary channels and services for our data users and data providers. Together, these initiatives reduce systemic risk and complexity while providing a resilient, secure and adaptable digital foundation to support future data needs and productivity.

The ABS operates in a demanding environment shaped by geopolitical instability, environment and climate-related risks, persistent productivity challenges and ongoing fiscal constraints. These pressures contribute to demand for timely, high-quality statistics and reinforce the importance of our role in supporting national decision-making. 

The ABS is sharpening its focus on high-impact priorities, strengthening evidence that informs productivity, economic, environmental and climate policy, and improving longer-term financial sustainability through modernisation, data reuse, and greater use of administrative and linked data. For example, we have partnered with the Australian Climate Service and have developed capability to better understand community vulnerability to climate change. This positions the ABS to continue to deliver trusted, policy-relevant statistics that support informed decision-making in periods of uncertainty.

The data environment is becoming more complex. Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are fundamentally reshaping business operations, data analytics and dissemination, and the use and consumption of technology, offering opportunities to improve productivity, scalability and insights, while introducing heightened governance, security and ethical risks. 

The ABS is collaborating with national statistical offices around the world to explore AI from three perspectives. Firstly, for organisational use to lift productivity, automate processes and reduce risks. The Whole of Australian Government Occupation Coding Service is one example where the ABS is already using AI. Secondly, to update our dissemination practices to ensure our information is AI accessible, and thirdly, to measure the impact of AI on the Australian economy. 

The ABS is committed to the use of AI with effective governance and security controls to safeguard statistical integrity, and to ensure transparency and public trust. To support this, we are using established governance processes and forums to ensure potential business uses of AI are safe, ethical and consistent with government policy. The Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer provides enterprise leadership for the strategic, responsible and value‑driven adoption of AI across the ABS. The Artificial Intelligence Accountable Official provides formal governance and risk oversight for AI use cases, ensuring compliance with APS AI governance requirements. The Chief Information Security Officer ensures AI systems are secure and resilient by design, including the management of cyber and information security risks.

As the trusted custodian of large volumes of sensitive, high-value statistical and administrative data, the ABS plays a central role in protecting privacy and security across the national data system. Rapid digitisation, expanded use of linked and cloud-based data, and the growing volume and sophistication of cyber threats, are driving a need to strengthen our security posture and how we safeguard information. 

The ABS is building on its long-standing commitment to privacy, confidentiality and security. This includes a continued shift towards a proactive, holistic, security-by-design approach. Through strong security and confidentiality frameworks, sustained investment driving cyber resilience, alignment with the Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030, and continued uplift against the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essentials for Enterprise IT, the ABS safeguards its data assets, maintains provider trust, and ensures the ongoing delivery of trusted statistics. 

Governments, businesses and the community increasingly expect faster, more granular and accessible data, alongside continued assurance of quality and objectivity, independence and relevance. Interest is growing in data to support national priorities such as productivity, renewable energy investment, data centres and digitisation, as well as a deeper understanding of complex areas including the non-market sector. Measuring productivity, particularly in health, education and public administration remains internationally challenging, with no simple solutions. 

By adopting a user-centred approach, making the most of new technologies and integrated data sources and applying modern methods, the ABS is well-placed to deliver timely, high-value economic and social insights that reflect the modern economy.

The environment for collecting high-quality statistical information is changing significantly. Survey fatigue, declining trust in institutions, increased exposure to external disruptions such as natural disasters, and increased private-sector data requests are contributing to lower survey response rates, placing pressure on data quality, cost and timeliness. At the same time, people increasingly expect government services to be simple, secure, accessible and available through digital channels that are responsive to their needs and circumstances. 

The ABS is responding by modernising its data collection approaches to ensure they remain effective, trusted and sustainable. This includes adopting user centred design practices and developing a Provider Experience Strategy, expanding the use of digital collection channels, improving the accessibility and flexibility of collection methods, increasing data reuse, replacing surveys with administrative data, redesigning samples and enhancing engagement with data providers to highlight the value of participation.

Demand for advanced data, statistical and digital skills continue to grow, presenting risks to workforce capability. The use of legacy technologies is adding further pressure due to limited availability of people with the required expertise and skills in the current market. The ABS is responding by investing in capability uplift through targeted upskilling, internal mobility and leadership development. An internal talent marketplace supports skill diversification and flexible deployment, while short-term or specialist needs are met through flexible workforce models. Modern job design, digital tools and standardised platforms enhance productivity and scalability. This ensures the ABS workforce remains adaptable, skilled and ready to meet emerging needs.

The environment in which the ABS operates is changing rapidly, and we must change with it. Through the next phase of our modernisation, we are strengthening organisational capability by investing in our people, culture, processes, systems and knowledge. We have begun shaping the next phase of our modernisation. This work enhances our data capability, sharpens our client focus, modernises technology and evolves leadership to ensure the ABS can meet emerging challenges. This includes the use of AI to drive a future ready ABS.

Five capability shifts to build a future ready ABS

The ABS’s mature data capability enables the end-to-end delivery of trusted statistics and insights for Australia. This capability supports the ABS to undertake its core activities and deliver its purpose as Australia’s national statistical agency.

We source, protect, analyse and disseminate high-quality data by combining established statistical expertise with direct survey collection, alternative data sources and modern data practices to produce timely, relevant outputs that meet the needs of governments, businesses and the community. This capability is aligned with the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy and guided by the ABS Data Strategy.

Delivery of these activities is supported by modern data infrastructure, effective and consistently applied governance, and robust privacy, security and ethical standards, enabling safe and scalable data integration, advanced analytics and responsible data sharing across government. The ABS leverages contemporary technologies, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency and enhance data accessibility. Through collaboration with government, academia and industry, we co-design outputs and unlock greater value from public and private sector data to strengthen the national evidence base.

The ABS puts clients at the centre of how we design, collect and deliver statistics. We work proactively with clients to understand their needs, roles, decision contexts, enabling fit- for- purpose engagement and effective management of the end-to-end client experience for both data providers and data users.

Through consistent, predictable and responsive engagement, we build trust and confidence while reducing burden, protecting data and demonstrating the value and integrity of our work. This partnership-based approach strengthens the relevance, quality and trustworthiness of ABS statistics and increases willingness to share data.

The ABS is outward–looking and connected, aligning with international best practice and anticipating emerging client needs. By partnering with clients to design solutions and deliver timely, high-quality insights through modern digital tools and accessible tailored services, we provide reliable evidence to support informed decisions and more resilient outcomes. 

The ABS is building a skilled, agile and sustainable workforce to meet major shifts in modernisation, digital uplift and growing data and technology demands, while responding to the evolving needs of our clients and users. 

Guided by the ABS Workforce Strategy, we are uplifting core data, digital and enabling capabilities through structured learning pathways, targeted contemporary training and investment in coding, data science, analytics and AI skills. Clear career pathways, internal mobility, talent pipelines and active succession planning are being strengthened to support capability growth, protect core delivery and prepare the organisation for emerging roles. By aligning workforce planning with enterprise priorities and budget, the ABS ensures the right mix of capability, capacity and diversity to deliver outcomes. 

United by purpose, strengthened by diverse perspectives, the ABS workforce continues to learn, adapt and innovate responsibly, upholding statistical excellence, public trust and impact in a data-driven, technology-enabled environment.

The ABS has a strong and evolving technology capability that enables the secure, reliable and scalable delivery of statistics, data products and services. This capability underpins the ABS’s ability to operate effectively in a changing data and digital environment and to respond to the needs of data providers, data users and ABS employees.

Guided by the ABS ICT Strategy, the ABS is strengthening its digital foundation as part of a multi-year modernisation journey. This includes sustained investment in modern, cloud-based platforms and contemporary technologies, improving the flexibility and resilience of core systems, and progressively transitioning away from legacy technologies that present the greatest operational or security risk.

A security-by-design approach, aligned with whole-of-government standards, underpins our technology environment, strengthening cyber security and protecting systems, data, and public trust.

Supported by a skilled and digitally capable workforce, we use automation and emerging technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness across production environments, enabling simple, secure and reliable digital services that support the delivery of high-quality statistics.

The ABS is strengthening leadership capability across the organisation to support its role as a trusted leader in data. Our leaders bring diverse perspectives, deep statistical expertise and strong digital, governance and delivery capabilities. Together, they operate as a cohesive, enterprise-focused cohort to drive shared accountability, resilience and impact. 

ABS leaders engage outwardly, build connections and spend time outside the ABS to bring new perspectives into the organisation. They are supported to take considered risks that drive innovation and continuous improvement. This capability enables ABS leaders to contribute collaboratively to whole-of-government decision-making and shape priorities for data, digital investment and governance, reinforcing the ABS’s role in strengthening Australia’s data capabilities.

ABS leaders model inclusive and respectful behaviours, promote wellbeing, enable workforce mobility, lead change effectively and uphold APS employment and workforce principles in every decision. Through this approach, the ABS is equipping its leadership to deliver trusted data, influence system-wide capability and support informed decisions for Australia.

By strengthening capabilities across data, clients, workforce, technology and leadership, the ABS is building an agile and resilient organisation, equipped to operate with impact in a rapidly evolving environment. These integrated investments ensure the ABS remains trusted, future-ready and capable of leading Australia’s data system, delivering high-quality insights that support confident decision-making and enduring public value.

In alignment with the APS Strategic Commissioning Framework, we are committed to ensuring our core work is undertaken by APS staff. We have set a target to keep the amount of core work outsourced to less than 1% of our Full-Time Equivalent workforce. This target reflects our commitment to maintaining our core work in-house and harnessing APS expertise and knowledge.

The ABS manages risk in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act)and the Commonwealth Risk Management Policy. We implement this through the Australian Statistician’s expectations for risk management and our ABS Risk Management Policy and Framework. 

The ABS Risk Management Framework outlines how we manage risks to achieve better outcomes for the Australian community. It helps us establish and maintain appropriate systems and controls for risk oversight and management and provides guidance to our people on managing and engaging with risk. 

During 2026–27, we will continue to implement a refreshed approach to risk management that fosters a positive risk culture to empower our people to identify and manage risk. We will continue to embed consistent risk practices across all program areas, with clear alignment to the ABS Risk Management Framework. Each program area will continue to identify, assess and manage risks relevant to its operations, contributing to a cohesive and comprehensive risk management strategy across the organisation.

The Australian Statistician holds overarching responsibility for the ABS Risk Management Framework and chairs the ABS Executive Board, which monitors our enterprise risk and determines our risk appetite and tolerance. The Executive Board encourages a balanced and proportionate approach to risk-taking, while applying informed risk management practices to uphold integrity and protect the organisation’s reputation.

The Chief Risk Officer supports the ABS Executive Board by reviewing enterprise risk and ensuring the effectiveness of our management of risk. The ABS Audit and Risk Committee gives independent advice to the Australian Statistician on the appropriateness of the ABS Risk Management Framework and internal controls. The Operations and Risk Committee enables greater senior oversight of key organisational risks and gives strategic advice to the ABS Executive Board on frameworks for enterprise risk, information management systems, property, security and financial management.

Our enterprise risk management function supports the Australian Statistician and ABS Executive Board. This includes reporting on enterprise risk and guiding business units and transformation programs to proportionately manage their risks.

The ABS has eight enterprise risks that reflect our current strategic and operating environment. Our enterprise risks are subject to in-depth review on an ongoing basis as the risk profile for each enterprise risk continues to evolve.

We work collaboratively with a broad network of partners across Australia and around the world.

The ABS engages with industry and businesses across all sectors to collect high-quality information on economic activity, labour, investment, innovation and industry performance that underpins informed economic decision-making and supports Australia’s prosperity. Businesses are central to the ABS statistical system as both essential data providers and users of ABS outputs and effective collaboration ensures that data, statistics and insights remain relevant, timely and fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving economy.

A cornerstone of ABS collaboration with business is its partnership with the Australian Taxation Office to maintain and use the Australian Business Register, which provides a comprehensive and current list of economically active businesses. The register underpins industry statistics, productivity analysis and economic measurement, ensuring representative coverage of Australia’s business population.

The ABS also works directly with industry groups, peak bodies and large organisations to ensure statistical concepts, classifications and outputs reflect contemporary business practices and economic structures. This engagement supports the development and interpretation of key outputs, including business indicators, capital expenditure statistics and industry performance measures, and helps ensure ABS products remain relevant to business decision-making.

Through modernisation programs such as Big Data, Timely Insights, the ABS collaborates with private-sector data providers to unlock new data sources and deliver faster, more detailed economic insights. These initiatives strengthen Australia’s business statistics, while improving the security, resilience and timeliness of ABS statistical systems.

By promoting data capability and statistical literacy, the ABS also supports businesses and industry stakeholders to confidently use the statistics we produce to understand market conditions, benchmark performance and support informed decision-making and planning, contributing to a strong and well-functioning economy.

The ABS works collaboratively with households and community organisations to ensure our statistics continue to reflect contemporary economic and social conditions and meet user needs. We engage with communities throughout the design, review and delivery of key data collections, including planned and ongoing engagement to support major household surveys such as the Monthly Population Survey. This engagement includes consulting with respondents, community groups and data users on survey content, collection methods and respondent experience, to reduce burden and strengthen data quality. 

We undertake public consultations when reviewing classifications, Census topics and statistical products, ensuring community perspectives inform decision-making. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The ABS will continue to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including through the ABS Round Table for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, to support culturally safe data collection and ensure statistical programs reflect Indigenous priorities, values and diversity. These collaborations will be supported by transparent communication, strong privacy protections and a commitment to returning value to the community through accessible and meaningful insights.

In partnership with all jurisdictions, and led by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the ABS is committed to strengthening Indigenous data governance through implementation of the Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data. As co-chair of the Data Policy Partnership with the Coalition of Peaks, the ABS is supporting improved data outcomes in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.We will also continue our commitment to reconciliation through the development of the 2027–29 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, which will contribute to strengthening cultural capability and safety in the workplace, and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

The ABS works in close partnership with governments at all levels, local, state and territory, and the Australian Government, as well as internationally, to deliver trusted, objective data and insights in a dynamic data environment. Through strong relationships with policy agencies, service delivery bodies and data custodians, the ABS integrates survey and administrative data into high-value statistical assets that inform decision-making across government, industry, business, academia and the community.

These collaborations support evidence-based policy design, effective implementation and rigorous evaluation, improving economic performance and community outcomes. For the 2026 Census of Population and Housing, the ABS partnered with Services Australia to enable households to subscribe and access the Census online via myGov. The ABS also partners with the Department of the Treasury and portfolio agencies, Reserve Bank of Australia, Productivity Commission and Commonwealth Grants Commission to provide core economic, labour, population and social statistics that inform fiscal, monetary and structural policy decisions. The ABS collaborates with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to produce national health statistics using administrative and survey data to support health policy, service planning and population health monitoring, and with the Department of Education to deliver high-quality statistics on early childhood, schooling, vocational education and training, and higher education.

Over the next three years, the ABS will partner with Australian government agencies to deliver key national data initiatives. This includes partnering with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to deliver the 2027 National Health Survey and the 2028 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, to inform policy, strengthen program design, and improve outcomes for Australians. Strong relationships with state, territory and local governments support place-based analysis, regional decision-making and whole-of-government initiatives through nationally consistent statistics.

The ABS is a key enabler for Australia’s research community and partners with academia and research organisations to accelerate innovation and ensure statistics remain fit for future decision-making. These collaborations help the ABS anticipate emerging data needs and embed leading research into statistical practice.

Working with universities, the ABS is co-developing national research infrastructure to support long-term insight. As a core partner in the Social Science Research Infrastructure Network (SSRIN), alongside the University of Queensland, Monash University and the Australian National University, the ABS is integrating social and administrative data to enable research on health, ageing and social outcomes.

Academic partnerships also drive operational innovation. Ongoing collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology supports the continued development of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard, enhancing automation and scalability to better support future population growth and urbanisation.

Looking ahead, the ABS will continue to enhance integrated data assets such as BLADE and PLIDA with university partners, supporting richer longitudinal and cross-sector analysis. Partnerships with institutions such as the University of Adelaide further strengthen life-course and justice data initiatives, informing early-intervention and equity-focused policy.

Together, these collaborations position the ABS as a cornerstone of Australia’s data and research infrastructure, delivering trusted evidence for the decisions that matter.

The ABS plans international collaborations to fulfil its legislated purpose of delivering trusted, high–quality statistics and facilitating effective statistical liaison between Australia and international partners. Targeted engagement with global organisations and National Statistical Offices (NSOs) ensures international activities are aligned to ABS priorities and deliver clear value to Australia.

Active participation in United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Conference of European Statistics (CES) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy (OECD-CSSP) forums enable the ABS to influence and adopt international standards, strengthening the quality, relevance and comparability of Australian statistics and supporting informed decision-making and public trust.

For many years, longer than three decades in one case, with funding and support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the ABS has supported Australia’s broader national and regional objectives by strengthening statistical capability, data governance and stewardship across Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Fiji and the Pacific. Looking ahead, the ABS will continue to work collaboratively across the Indo-Pacific region, for example through its partnership with the PNG NSO, to strengthen statistical capability in National Accounts and Prices programs. This work will focus on enhancing data quality, with particular emphasis on accuracy, timeliness, and coherence across datasets.

International collaboration delivers the dual benefits of building sustainable statistical systems in partner countries, while strengthening ABS capability, reinforcing Australia’s role as a trusted regional partner and influential contributor to the global statistical system.