Data Exchange
What is the Data Exchange?
The Data Exchange is a new programme performance reporting solution developed by the
Department of Social Services (DSS) in consultation with service providers and clients, in response to
the Australian Government’s commitment to empower civil society organisations. It was developed to
improve the way we collect and use administrative data to improve the wellbeing of people and
families in our communities.
The name ‘Data Exchange’ reflects the two-way partnership of information sharing between DSS and
service providers, enabling both to find smarter and more efficient ways of improving service delivery
and the overall outcomes achieved for individuals, families and their communities.
The data requirements are divided into two parts: a small set of priority requirements that all service
providers must report, and a voluntary extended data set that providers can choose to share with the
Department known as the partnership approach. Participation in the partnership approach is entirely
voluntary and in return for their efforts, partnership approach contributors will have access to multiple
self service reports that include data sourced from other government data sets.
Inputting data into the Data Exchange can be done in three different ways: system-to-system transfer,
bulk uploads (xml) or direct entry into the web-based portal.
The principles of the Data Exchange
1. Service providers will spend less time reporting administrative data and more time helping
clients.
The Data Exchange collects far fewer data items than previous performance reporting requirements
and provides flexible ways to submit this information through new IT system capabilities.
2. Data collection will focus on client outcomes.
Instead of focusing on pure numbers, the Data Exchange has been designed to capture outcome
information. DSS is mindful of the challenges of measuring client outcomes in ways that are relevant,
proportionate and rigorous—recognising that service providers are not funded to be specialist
researchers or to spend disproportionate amounts of time measuring client outcomes.
3. Client personal information and privacy will be protected.
Administrative data provided by funded services is de-identified using a Statistical Linkage Key (SLK)
Algorithm so that no personal client information will be accessed by DSS. This means that DSS will
never be able to match a submitted data record back to an individual client. The SLK Algorithm will
enable client outcome data to be matched over time and across programmes—without ever
disclosing the identity of the individual client.
Data Exchange
Programmes currently using the Data Exchange
Government Agencies using the Data Exchange
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Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS)
Commonwealth Attorney Generals Department
Commonwealth Department of Health
A range of state and territory governments who directly deliver the Commonwealth Home
Support Programme (CHSP)
Programmes using the Data Exchange (DSS unless indicated otherwise)
Families and Children
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Children's Contact Service
Family Law Counselling
Family Dispute Resolution (Cwth Attorney Generals Dept)
Family Relationship Advice Line
Family Relationship Centre (Cwth Attorney Generals Dept)
Parenting Orders Programme - post separation co-operative parenting (Cwth Attorney
Generals Dept)
Supporting Children After Separation Programme
Regional Family Dispute Resolution (Cwth Attorney Generals Dept)
Family and Relationship services -Specialised Family Violence
Family and Relationship services -Inter-country Adoption Australia
Family and Relationship services
Family and Relationship services -Drought assistance
Communities for Children Facilitating Partners
Children and parent support services
Intensive Family Support Services
Settlement Grants
National Find and Connect
Forced Adoptions Support Services
Royal Commission Interim support services
Financial Wellbeing and Capability
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Financial crisis and material aid - emergency relief
Commonwealth Financial counselling and financial capability
Financial Capability - Cape York
Financial counselling helpline
Problem gambling
Financial counselling and capability IM Hubs
Financial Resilience
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Data Exchange
Carers, Disability and Mental Health Services
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Community Mental Health, Early Intervention for Children, Young People and their Families
TCC Family Mental Health Support Services New Measures 2012-14
Drought Package - Targeted Community Care
Mental Health Respite: Carer Support
Targeted Community Care Mental Health Respite: Carer Support New Measures 2012-14
Young Carer Bursary Programme
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCC)
Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC)
Carer Information and Support Service (CISS)
National Carer Counselling Programme (NCCP)
Dementia Education Training Centres
Counselling, Support, Information and Advocacy (CSIA)
Assistance for people severely impacted by Mental Illness – Drought Assistance
Individual Placement and Support Trial
Assistance for people severely impacted by Mental Illness – A Better Life (ABle)
Personal Helpers and Mentors
TCC Personal Helpers and Mentors New Measures 2012-14 PHaMs Employment
TCC Personal Helpers and Mentors Expansion New Measures 2012-14
Aged care
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Commonwealth Home Support Programme (Cwth Department of Health)