DataLab User Guide

ABS provides information on the following:

• Onboarding requirements
• Cost guidance
• Estimated timeframes

 ABS can also arrange an initial meeting if required.

• Researchers discuss project with ABS and review available data item lists (PLIDA, BLADE, Detailed Survey Data Products)
• Check with ABS if your project is partnering with an overseas entity
• Access will not be approved if any of the below criteria/considerations are not met

Application considerations:

1. Statistical and/or research purpose
Projects must be for legitimate research or statistical purposes. A project must not be used for compliance purposes, or for any purpose associated with identifying an individual or a business, or for commercial gain.

2. Public value
The proposed research must demonstrate public interest and benefit.

3. Confidentiality
Research analysis and outputs must not identify an individual person or business. 

4. Data requirements
Researchers must clearly specify data and reference periods required. All data selected must be relevant to the project purpose. Other data options, including aggregated datasets, must have been ruled out as viable for the research purpose, and justification provided for the use of integrated and detailed microdata.

5. Available data must be suitable for the project
Data must be suitable and available for your research purpose. The data must be of sufficient quality for analysis, and the populations of interest and geographic granularity high enough that there is a low risk of identification of individual people or businesses. 

Create and submit proposal in myDATA (ABS DataLab Project Proposal) 

• Include purpose, methodology, data required, timeframes, and public benefit. More information on myDATA can be found in the myDATA user guide.
• Drafting and review can occur within myDATA before submission to ABS

ABS review and assessment determines:

• Project risks are in line with Five Safes Framework and Safe Project review
• Suitability of requested data
• Required milestones and timeframes
• Relevant charges

 ABS may provide feedback on project proposal or request further information. Every project needs to be approved by ABS.

• ABS develops and issues formal quote 
• Charges are dependent on project needs and data complexity
• Invoice issued and must be paid before access is provisioned

• Project lead reviews and accepts quote and pays invoice

• ABS approvals (Safe People, Safe Project, Safe Data)

• Data custodian approvals sought
• Approval requirements vary depending on data requested and project type
• Cultural review may be required for projects involving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander data
• Co-governance review if required (is a requirement for Disability projects)

• Researchers complete mandatory training and onboarding requirements (see Researcher Onboarding and Eligibility Requirements for more information)

• ABS conduct a comprehensive Safe People assessment, including evaluation of a post‑training quiz, verification against all onboarding requirements, authentication of the researcher, including the researcher’s risk profile

• Project established in DataLab, including provisioning of researcher access once all required conditions are met:
  • The project proposal has been approved
  • Invoice has been paid
  • All onboarding requirements have been completed for at least one researcher
  • Only one analyst is required to be fully onboarded and ready at the point of initial project access. Additional researchers may be granted access progressively as they complete onboarding.
  • Access to data is contingent on approval by at least one data custodian

• All project updates must be approved by ABS. These include:
  • Researcher additions/removals (including new partner organisations)
  • Project end date changes
  • Scope extensions
  • New data
• Some updates may require data custodian approval
• To update an existing project proposal, refer to Change Requests in the myDATA user guide.

• All researchers must belong to an approved Australian organisation or an ABS approved overseas entity with a verified Responsible Officer Undertaking (ROU) in place
• Without an ROU, the organisation will not appear in myDATA
• Contact the ABS if unsure about organisation status

• Researchers must be located in Australia when accessing DataLab (unless approved by ABS to access from overseas)
• Researchers must formally commit to upholding data confidentiality
• All individuals who access, view, discuss, or analyse data must be approved by the ABS
• Project researchers, supervisors and collaborators must be approved as DataLab Analysts or Discussants
• Analysts must:
  • have the ability to use at least one of the statistical analytical languages available in DataLab
  • have at least three years of either quantitative research experience or university study with a significant component working with quantitative data, or have provided a Statement of Support from an experienced researcher working on the same project

• A statement of support is required before access to DataLab can be granted for:
  • researchers that do not meet the experienced researcher criteria and plan to access DataLab as an analyst
  • academic, public policy, and private sector researchers
  • researchers affiliated with overseas entities, or domestic researchers requesting access from overseas
• More information on the form can be found by visiting Undertakings and Conditions of use
• The form must be endorsed by the organisation. Contact mydataportal@abs.gov.au for a statement of support form.

• Register account in the myDATA portal. This will allow you to:
  • create a project proposal within myDATA
  • enrol in DataLab safe researcher training
  • access forms to finalise the onboarding process after training has been completed
  • draft and review projects you are participating in
• Accept Conditions of Use to finalise registration
• Must register with organisation-specific email
• Multiple organisations require separate accounts
• myDATA account must be authenticated via email verification process
• Consult the myDATA user guide if any issues
• Submit a System support query if problems persist

• All analysts and discussants must complete DataLab Safe Researcher Training
• Can be completed during drafting proposal stage
• Mandatory prior to access
• Undertake refresher training every two years or sooner, as instructed by ABS

• Complete DataLab quiz, and submit onboarding documents to mydataportal@abs.gov.au:
  • Undertakings
  • Declarations
  • Data conditions
• Additional criteria may apply for specific datasets, including but not limited to additional documentation