Guidance for Data Custodians

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Release date and time
21/09/2026 12:40pm AEST

Introduction

The PLIDA Governance Guide provides the framework for data custodians providing data to the Person-Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA). It explains how the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) manages PLIDA. It also helps custodians understand their role in ensuring safe handling of data, transparent governance, and compliance with legislation and ethical standards.

Purpose

This downloadable governance guide is designed to:

  • Outline the principles and processes that underpin PLIDA governance
  • Support custodians in meeting privacy, security, and ethical obligations
  • Enable confident participation in PLIDA, knowing data will be managed responsibly and securely
  • Promote collaboration that delivers public benefit through evidence-based insights.
Key Topics

The guide covers:

  • Governance principles and co-governance arrangements
  • Privacy-by-design and security protocols
  • Roles and responsibilities of data custodians
  • Project approval, ethics requirements, and access controls
  • Data linkage, retention, and destruction processes.

A checklist has been developed to outline the role and responsibilities of ABS data custodians and help organisations assess their readiness for secure, lawful and effective data sharing in ABS data integration projects.

Contact ABS for assistance by emailing mydataportal@abs.gov.au.

PLIDA Governance Guide

Download

Data files
Download pdf [2.26 MB]

Resources

See below to download other support resources.

Checklist for becoming a data custodian

Use this document as a guide to see how ready you are to be a data custodian.

Data files
Download pdf [299.59 KB]

Letter of Exchange template example

This is the proforma for a typical data sharing agreement.

Data files
Download pdf [352.83 KB]

PLIDA data supply Data Item List template

This document captures the metadata and structure of the data you need us to link to PLIDA. It forms the basis of the data sharing agreement and helps us accurately cost the data integration.

Data files
Download xlsx [31.8 KB]

Data supply guidelines

This document outlines the format and other requirements for data supply to the ABS once a data sharing agreement is signed.

Data files
Download pdf [577.17 KB]

History of changes

Change dateResourceKey changes from previous versions
03/07/2026Data supply guidelines v1.1 
  • Additional requirements for submitting files, particularly for analytical files, have been included
  • Tables have been incorporated to enhance readability and provide examples of how data should be supplied 
21/07/2026Data supply guidelines v1.2
  • Updated the example DIL under the 'Fields' heading
  • Specified that the primary key must be on both linkage and analytical files
21/09/2026PLIDA Governance Guide v1.1
  • New additions:
    • Governance Principles chapter
    • Costs for Data Custodians
    • Expanded Privacy-by-Design framework 
      into formal three-level framework: System, Asset and Project
    • Introducing Data Ethics Assessment process, a new requirement for sensitive projects where HREC is not mandated
  • Removal of Enduring Multi Purpose section due to pilot closing