A new data linkage platform, PeopleWA, has been launched to streamline and enhance access to valuable government data for research and policy-making. For the first time, up to 75 million unique records containing both current and archival data have been securely linked across several key government sectors, including Communities, Education, Health, Justice, and the Western Australia Police Force.
PeopleWA brings together de-identified data to offer a more comprehensive understanding of how government decisions, services, and programs impact the community over time. It aims to tackle some of the state’s most pressing challenges in areas like social welfare, health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
The platform ensures the protection of individual privacy, maintaining high standards of security and governance. It operates within an e-research environment where access is granted only to approved government agencies, researchers, and non-profit organizations. Each access request undergoes a rigorous approval process and is assessed using the "Five Safes" framework, which is a global standard for responsible data sharing.
PeopleWA is protected by international best practices for data governance, privacy safeguards, and cybersecurity. It is also designed to comply with anticipated future privacy and information sharing legislation in Western Australia.
The platform is set to evolve as new datasets are added each year to meet the changing needs of research and policy. PeopleWA is funded by the $8 million Digital Capability Fund, aiming to improve data usage across government services to benefit all Western Australians.