World-first data asset to improve outcomes for people with disability

Australia will now have a clearer research picture of people with disability aimed at improving their life outcomes, with the release of the first data from the National Disability Data Asset between Commonwealth, state and territory governments. 

The NDDA is a world first, co-governed asset that has for the first time, linked de-identified data in a way that has people with disability as its core focus. 

It is one of the major innovations of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and will play a key role in helping to measure how policies and programs are delivering better outcomes over time. 

The release of the first data comprises 18 data sets, including data from the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, which ensures the NDDA contains the most up-to-date data on Australians with disability, their key demographics and experiences of disability.  

It also includes data from the Medicare Benefits Schedule about how people with disability access health services and how Medicare services interact with other government supports, enabling people with disability and researchers to look at how we can make these systems work better.

This MBS data will link with expanded National Disability Insurance Scheme data enabling new insights into how people with disability are interacting with these government services. 

In the longer-term, as additional data is incorporated into the NDDA, it will become a comprehensive resource to support better understanding of how people with disability interact with government programs and services and where the biggest issues and gaps are.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the NDDA will play an important role in understanding the experiences of people with disability and informing future policy and programs that better meet their needs.

“Until now we have not had access to truly connected Commonwealth, state and territory information about how people with disability live, and how the services and support they receive impacts their outcomes,” Minister Rishworth said.

“This first release will start to give us important insights into interactions people with disability have with the health system and their access to disability services to help drive better programs and policies.

“This data will enable governments to work with people with disability and researchers to identify how we can effectively target policy and programs to improve outcomes for people with disability across all aspects of their lives.” 

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said that by providing a more complete picture of the life experiences of people with disability, and more information about programs and services, the NDDA has the power to change policy and improve lives for people with disability, their families and carers.

“The National Disability Data Asset is a game-changer for evidence-based policymaking. By connecting data across systems, we can better understand the challenges faced by people with disability and create policies that make a real difference in their lives. This initiative highlights the power of data to drive smarter, fairer, and more effective government programs,” Assistant Minister Leigh said.

The NDDA is inclusively co-governed by both people with disability and governments through the National Disability Data Asset Council, ensuring use of the Asset is transparent and accountable. The NDDA Council is supported by a range of panels that include people with disability. 

People with disability have also played a key role in developing a Charter for the NDDA, which defines the rules for how the Asset can and cannot be used. This will ensure that people with disability benefit from, and are involved in, all associated data analysis and research and that all data in the Asset is kept safe.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have played a key role in ensuring the Asset has been established for safe, secure and ethical use. 

Three more data releases are planned in 2025, expanding the range of data available to other areas such as housing, education, transport and justice. 

The NDDA is expected to be fully operational in 2026. 

For more information or to submit a research application, visit the National Disability Data Asset website.