Health Data Landscape Review and COVID-19 Cross-Jurisdictional Data-Sharing

Purpose

To support the implementation of the Enhanced Health Data reform outlined in the National Health Reform Agreement Addendum 2020–2025, the Victorian Department of Health and Queensland Health commissioned HealthConsult to deliver two nationally significant projects: the Health Data Landscape Review (Phase 2), and the COVID-19 Cross-jurisdictional Data-sharing Successes Project. These projects aimed to identify system-level barriers and opportunities to improve the way Australian governments share and use health data to support better decision-making, planning, and outcomes across health and social sectors.

Approach

HealthConsult applied a structured, consultative, andevidence-led approach involving:

• A horizon scan of national and international health data strategies and reform efforts.
• A legal review of data-sharing legislation across Australian jurisdictions.
• Extensive stakeholder engagement involving 148 interviews, surveys, and case study development with representatives across all Australian jurisdictions and non-government organisations.
• Thematic analysis of 18 core findings and learnings spanning governance, workforce, operational practices, research access, and cultural factors.
• Development of eight practical, scalable recommendations aligned to agreed NHRA reform principles (C41–C44).
• Design of a sequenced implementation roadmap and options for national ongoing monitoring.‍

Outcome

HealthConsult’s work provided the Health Data and Digital Transformation Collaborative with:

• A nationally endorsed set of eight recommendations to support more efficient, interoperable, and secure data-sharing across jurisdictions.
• A comprehensive implementation roadmap with short- and long-term actions, including the establishment of a federated networked data ecosystem and governance structures.
• Tools to inform development of a National Health Information Strategy, a national health information analysis workplan, and options for establishing Chief Data and Analytics Officers across jurisdictions.
• A series of detailed case studies, exemplars, and a national stocktake of health data-sharing initiatives and strategic assets.
• Clear guidance on how learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic - such as the rapid sharing of data enabled by shared purpose and public interest - can be embedded into longer-term reforms.

The Final Report was commended for its rigour, depth, and practicality, and has laid the foundation for continued collaboration under the proposed Health Data Collaboration from July 2023 onward.