Data Contained in the Human Services Dataset

Child Protection refers to services provided to children who are, or may be, at risk of significant harm and require intervention to ensure their ongoing safety. The Child Protection longitudinal dataset captures information about child protection reports concerning children and young people who have been reported to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). In contrast, the Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) longitudinal dataset focuses on children and young people placed in OOHC settings. It contains data on placement arrangements and the services delivered by the department, enabling the monitoring of changes in the circumstances and needs of children in care over time.

The dataset contains information on clients receiving housing-related products or support, including public and Aboriginal housing, private rental assistance to help maintain affordable housing in the private market, and temporary accommodation offering short-term stays for people experiencing homelessness.

Family preservation services typically work with families when children have been reported to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) at risk of significant harm (ROSH) and aim to prevent re-reporting of children at ROSH, further involvement with the statutory child protection system, and entries into OOHC. The dataset provides information on these services and programs, noting that the list may vary for different years depending upon which programs are active at a given point.

The dataset(s) include information about all people who are referred to or seek assistance from Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) in NSW. The data presented in the client files is recorded by specialist homelessness services funded by DCJ as part of the National Minimum Dataset, the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC).

The Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) program delivers flexible support to children, young people, families and communities experiencing or at risk of vulnerability.

The Family Connect and Support (FCS) Program is a referral service for families experiencing vulnerability. Family Connect and Support aims to link families to the right services and supports before their situation escalates and there is a need for a statutory response.

Community housing is a secure and affordable rental housing service designed for individuals and families on very low to moderate incomes. Community housing providers submit data to the Community Housing Information Management ‘E’ System (CHIMES) portal to support reporting, record maintenance, and tenancy updates under this program. This data is compiled annually by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and used to create this asset for reporting and analytical purposes.

The Reoffending Database (ROD) is a comprehensive resource that has been developed by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) to monitor and analyse patterns of offending across NSW. ROD contains detailed information on every person convicted of a criminal offence in NSW since 1994. Its primary use is to determine the proportion of offenders who are reconvicted of criminal offences, helping inform justice policy and crime prevention strategies.

The dataset contains metadata and incident information from NSW Police Force Computerised Operating Police Systems (COPS). It includes details such as involved party’s information (age, gender, involvement type, etc) and incident related information (time/date of incident, location, type of incident, etc). The dataset was compiled to support research that would assist the NSW government in understanding and predicting demand for services, make evidence-based investment decisions, reduce- long-term costs, and improve outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families.

The Youth Justice NSW (YJNSW) data collection includes administrative and operational data relating to young people in contact with YJNSW by way of custodial admission, community supervision, or Youth Justice Conference referral. Data has been routinely collected for case management purposes by YJNSW and is stored in the YJNSW Client Information Management System (CIMS).

Enrolment data for students who were enrolled and attended a NSW Government school, and their parents and carers. 

Students that were enrolled in a NSW Department of Education school between 2011-2024 receiving Integration Funding Support (IFS) or in a support class.

Student attendance information for students who were enrolled and attended a NSW Government school.

Student suspension information for students who were enrolled and attended a NSW Government school.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Data relating to Apprenticeships and Traineeship training contacts stored in the Integrated Vocational Education and Training System (IVETS). Apprenticeships and traineeships provide pathways to gaining nationally recognised qualifications while being paid and working for an employer.

NSW Smart and Skilled Full Qualifications

Data relating to Smart and Skilled program commitments for full qualifications stored in IVETS. The Smart and Skilled program provides government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.

NSW Smart and Skilled Part Qualifications

Data relating to Smart and Skilled program commitments for part qualifications stored in IVETS. The Smart and Skilled program provides government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.

The NSW Minimum Data Set Alcohol and Other Drugs (MDS DATS) data collection provides consistent information about the clients and activities of NSW Health funded drug and alcohol treatment services. The collection, along with other information sources, is used to inform policy and strategies relating to the drug and alcohol treatment sector.

NSW Ambulance routinely collects operational and clinical data. Operational data are captured in the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The paper-based Patient Health Care Record (PHCR) and electronic Medical Record (eMR) are NSW Ambulance’s principal clinical datasets. The PHCR is completed by paramedics only in the absence of an electronic Medical Record (eMR).

The Controlled Drugs Data Collection (CoDDaC) is a collection of records administered by the Pharmaceutical Services Unit of NSW Ministry of Health to manage applications and approvals to prescribe under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), as well as approvals to prescribe other drugs of addiction. The CoDDaC – OTP subcollection contains details of patients participating in the NSW OTP, approvals issued to prescribers for Schedule 8 (S8) medicines used in the OTP (methadone, buprenorphine), and facilities (administration points) approved to dispense or administer OTP medicines to patients on the OTP.

NSW Ambulance routinely collects operational and clinical data. Operational data are captured in the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The paper-based Patient Health Care Record (PHCR) and electronic Medical Record (eMR) are NSW Ambulance’s principal clinical datasets. The PHCR is completed by paramedics only in the absence of an electronic Medical Record (eMR).

The NSW Perinatal Data Collection (formerly known as the Midwives Data Collection) is a population-based surveillance system covering all births in NSW public and private hospitals, as well as homebirths.

This collection records all admitted patient services provided by New South Wales Public Hospitals, Public Psychiatric Hospitals, Public Multi-Purpose Services, Private Hospitals, and Private Day Procedures Centres.

The purpose of collecting Emergency Department data in NSW is to monitor patient presentations to, and the activity undertaken in, the Emergency Departments (EDs) of public hospitals and in scope contracted private hospitals in NSW.

Ambulatory mental health care is dedicated to the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation or care of non-admitted patients. It may include mental health day programs, psychiatric outpatients and outreach services (e.g., home visits).  Also included is care provided by hospital based consultation-liaison services to admitted patients in non-psychiatric and hospital emergency settings; care provided by community workers to admitted patients and clients in staffed community residential settings and mental health promotion and prevention services.

NSW fines information - fines records managed by Revenue NSW, including initial penalties, enforced/overdue fines (e.g. court and NSW Electoral Commission fines), and Work and Development Order program information.

The NSW Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registry data provide the opportunity to extract insights about birth, deaths and marriages events registered in NSW. The data is received by BDM from a variety of sources, including NSW Health, private hospitals, funeral directors and marriage celebrants, as well as directly from applicants (parents and marriage applicants), and is used across all levels of government and private sector entities to inform decision making.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) datasets provide de-identified information on student assessment performance and certification outcomes in NSW, together with details of school enrolment, course participation, and key student characteristics. They comprise data from National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), Record of School Achievement (RoSA), and Higher School Certificate (HSC) collections, supporting analysis of student learning progress and school characteristics across years.

This dataset provides a comprehensive view of the diverse legal services delivered by Legal Aid NSW, from quick advice and minor assistance through to extended representation, dispute resolution, duty lawyer support, and grants of aid. Together, these records highlight the organisation’s vital role in ensuring access to justice for disadvantaged people across criminal, family, and civil law matters.