PeopleWA

In 2022, the Western Australian Government announced the establishment of a whole-of-government linked data asset, in response to recommendations made by Professor Peter Klinken AC, Chief Scientist of Western Australia.

PeopleWA combines the linkage activities of the Western Australian Data Linkage System, administered by the Department of Health, and the Social Investment Data Resource, which was administered by the Department of Treasury and has now ceased operations. 

PeopleWA is supported by a streamlined application process with heightened security protections and represents the WA Government’s commitment to data-driven decision making and research.  

Data linkage is the process of connecting information from multiple data sources together to create a richer and more comprehensive dataset. Data related to a common individual, family, place or event can be linked together to offer a population-level view that supports important policy decisions and research.

Data linkage supports sophisticated and comprehensive studies of whole populations in a way that protects individual privacy. Such studies use modern data analytics techniques to provide a richer understanding of the community impacts of government decisions, services and programs over time.

PeopleWA holds linked administrative data which spans the following areas:

• Child protection
• Public housing
• Disability
• Education
• Justice
• Police
• Health and mental health
• Infectious diseases
• Training and Workforce:
  • Apprentices and Trainees
  • VET Enrolments

More information on the available datasets, including date ranges can be found in our data catalogue.

New datasets will be added to PeopleWA each year to ensure data linkage continues to meet changing policy and research needs. 

In line with global standards, PeopleWA uses the separation principle to protect an individual’s privacy. This means that no party, including any applicants for data, has access to both personal identifying information and service data.

When participating agencies contribute to PeopleWA, they provide demographic data to the Department of Health, which de-identifies the information and generates encrypted linkage keys. The content data is sent to the Office of Digital Government in a separate transaction, where it is anonymously linked and administered by PeopleWA.

PeopleWA uses a secure e-Research Platform for approved users to access and analyse data. A usage fee is applied to each approved non-government project for access to the e-Research Platform. This cost is based on user needs and the number of users accessing the Platform.

You can use the PeopleWA Price Estimate Calculator to estimate pricing or request an estimate from the PeopleWA team. See the PeopleWA e-Research Platform Pricing page for details.

PeopleWA has strong cyber security controls in line with the WA Government’s Cyber Security Policy and it has also been designed to comply with the anticipated requirements of  the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024. PeopleWA data can only be accessed for approved purposes via a secure, monitored e-research platform. All data requires review before it can leave the e-Research Platform, and all publications are reviewed prior to external circulation.

Every application to PeopleWA is assessed by the relevant data custodians in the participating agencies from which the datasets originate. This assessment is undertaken in line with legislative requirements and the Five Safes, a global best practice framework for responsible data sharing considering projects, people, data, settings and output.

Data custodians from data providing agencies sit on the PeopleWA Governance Group (PWAGG), which is responsible for reviewing applications and providing additional risk oversight.

Approval by an accredited human research ethics committee is required for all research projects seeking access to linked data. Additionally, applications for information held by the Department of Health requires approval from the Department‘s Human Research Ethics Committee as per its Research Governance Framework, facilitated by the Research Governance Service.

The PeopleWA Governance Group (PWAGG) supports the Data and Linkage Advisory Committee (DALAC) and the Office of Digital Government to oversee and optimise data linkage activities in Western Australia. Their work includes:

• reviewing all PeopleWA applications;
• providing recommendations for a schedule of future linkages and expansion of linked data;
• collaborating on streamlining operational data access and use issues;
• facilitating collaboration with the research and community sectors;
• reporting to DALAC on the progress of linked data initiatives; and
• addressing issues related to data linkage and sharing practice.

PWAGG is comprised of data custodians and representatives, from PeopleWA partner agencies, including:

• WA Department of Communities
• WA Department of Education
• Australian Government Department of Education
• WA Department of Health
• Western Australia Police Force
• WA Department of the Premier and Cabinet
• WA Mental Health Commission
• WA Department of Justice
• WA Department of Treasury and Finance
• WA Department of Training and Workforce Development

PeopleWA has been used to improve outcomes for WA communities. This includes:

• understanding trends and risk factors in public health;
• monitoring progress against Closing the Gap targets;
• determining solutions for children’s health and development; and
• investigating ways to improve policies affecting the criminal justice system. 

Other Pages

• Applying for PeopleWA data
• e-Research Platform Onboarding
• PeopleWA e-Research Platform pricing