Requests to use the Human Services Dataset

Access and use guidelines

These guidelines detail the conditions and requirements for obtaining data from the Human Services Dataset (HSDS). These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Public Interest Direction and Health Public Interest Direction (PIDs) made by the NSW Privacy Commissioner. Any analytic activities that make use of the Tier Two data contained within the HSDS must adhere to the requirements specified within the PIDs.

• Quick Reference Guide for Access to and Use of the Human Services Dataset (HSDS) (PDF, 248.1 KB)
• Project Scope and Planned Analysis (DOCX, 63.8 KB)
• HSDS Application Process Flowchart - No NSW Population & Health Services Research Ethics Committee (PHSREC) approval required (PDF, 174.5 KB)
• HSDS Application Process Flowchart - PHSREC approval required (PDF, 311.4 KB)

If you have any questions regarding the HSDS and making a request, please contact the Project Team at HSDS@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Ethics framework for the Human Services Dataset

NSW Population & Health Services Research Ethics Committee (PHSREC) Approval

PHSREC approval is required for all projects proposing to use NSW Health data and/or make a one-off linkage to the HSDS. This requirement may be waived for Government projects using Health data for Funding, Management, Planning or Evaluation of government services in line with the PIDs.

When is PHSREC Approval Required?

* includes where a government entity contracts an external organisation - such as a university or an evaluation firm (e.g., Nous or Taylor Fry), to undertake an evaluation of a program.

✓ = PHSREC approval required

X = PHSREC approval not required

For further information, visit the  NSW Population & Health Services Research Ethics Committee | Cancer Institute NSW website.

Aboriginal Ethics Approval

Ethics approval from the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) is required if the research project is specifically focused on Aboriginal populations; and/or if research projects report on Aboriginal populations as a distinct group; and/or if Youth Justice data is requested.

For further information regarding ethics approval process and procedure, contact the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council

Projects Involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) Components

Identifying AI can be complex, especially when AI is integrated as a feature within applications. The AI Assessment Framework Guidance provides a foundational approach to help you determine whether your proposed work or system contains artificial intelligence (AI).

If you think your project does NOT use AI

Check this by completing the Digital AI Assessment Framework Guidance questionnaire (questions are divided into "Non-AI use cases" and "AI use cases").

If your project uses AI

You must:

• Complete the NSW AI Assessment Framework (AIAF) self-assessment,
• Identify and assess residual risks (e.g. data bias),
• Provide mitigation strategies, and
• Submit your completed NSW AIAF self-assessment to hsds@nsw.gov.au.

Submission Requirements

• Project team must submit the AIAF self-assessment to hsds@nsw.gov.au and the Research and Human Services Dataset Governance team will share it with the DCJ AI Ethical Review Board for review. 
• The DCJ AI Ethical Review Board recommendations will be provided to the Human Services Dataset Governance Advisory Committee (HSDGAC) for consideration.
• In addition, if the AIAF self-assessment has a residual risk of high or greater following the application of all mitigation and controls, then it may need to be submitted to the NSW Government AI Secretariat at AISecretariat@customerservice.nsw.gov.au for confirmation.
• A project proposal is considered the first milestone and the AIAF must be submitted at that stage.