National Disability Data Asset

The National Disability Data Asset brings together information from different government agencies about all Australians. It will help us better understand and meet the needs of people with disability. 

The Department of Social Services works with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on the National Disability Data Asset.

The Australian National Data Integration Infrastructure (ANDII) is the underlying system that supports the National Disability Data Asset. This infrastructure allows us to connect datasets across Australia. It will support approved researchers to do analysis using the National Disability Data Asset.  

The ANDII was designed and built by the ABS and AIHW. The ANDII has built-in safeguards to ensure data is shared and accessed in a secure environment.

The ANDII includes:

• the infrastructure that allows us to combine data across various sets of data
• a model to ensure we use best practice to combine and de-identify data
• ways to govern the data and data sharing arrangements
• processes to keep information safe and secure and maintain privacy
• the technology solution required to combine and store data for the National Disability Data Asset.

The technology solution is built in the cloud for better security and the ability to scale up or grow.

We are committed to protecting people’s privacy and keeping information safe. 

We follow relevant laws for the National Disability Data Asset and ANDII. This includes the Privacy Act 1988, Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 and state and territory laws. Data sharing agreements for the National Disability Data Asset and ANDII are listed on the Office of National Data Commissioner’s Data Sharing Agreement Register.

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the National Disability Data Asset and the ANDII was completed by privacy experts in 2023. In 2024, the ABS completed a Privacy Assessment for the use of ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers data in the National Disability Data Asset. A summary of National Disability Data Asset privacy materials is on the ABS Privacy Impact Assessments webpage.   

We meet Australian Government standards for information, personnel and physical security. Our systems and processes conform to the Information Technology security arrangements set out in the Information Security Manual, which is part of the Australian Government's Protective Security Policy Framework. 

Ethical oversight arrangements for National Disability Data Asset are in place. In May 2024, the AIHW Ethics Committee approved the approach to the establishment and operation of National Disability Data Asset and ANDII. A Disability-informed Ethical Oversight Panel will also review research proposals through a disability lens. The Panel will only recommend projects be approved that are not likely to cause harm to people with disability and are aligned with the National Disability Data Asset Charter.

More information is available on the Guiding Principles page of the National Disability Data Asset website.

The first release of the National Disability Data Asset includes data about disability, health and social security payments. Eligible researchers can now apply for access to data. 

Contact the ABS at ndda@abs.gov.au for information about how to apply for access to the National Disability Data Asset.

The ABS will assess and approve requests for data in line with the principles and rules in the National Disability Data Asset Charter, and other project and researcher requirements. 

The National Disability Data Asset is expected be fully operational in 2026. 

For questions about ANDII contact ndda@abs.gov.au or ndda@aihw.gov.au.

More information about the NDDA is available at www.ndda.gov.au.