Data improvements

Last updated: 31 October 2025

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety made recommendations related to improving the quality, coverage and availability of aged care data. The Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have partnered to develop the:

National Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy	The Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029 and Action Plan outlines the government’s approach to developing data and digital foundations for aged care systems. It was released by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing in July 2024.
Aged Care National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)	The Aged Care NMDS is a core set of standardised data elements agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at a national level about aged care. The Aged Care NMDS V2.0 data standards were released via METEOR in October 2025.
Aged Care National Best Practice Dataset (NBPDS)	The Aged Care NBPDS is a new set of data elements that is recommended for collection at a national level about aged care. The Aged Care NBPDS V1.0 data standards were released via METEOR in October 2025.
National Aged Care Data Asset (NACDA)	The National Aged Care Data Asset brings together de-identified person-level data collected across aged care, health and community service settings for aged care research purposes.

 

What is our goal?

These activities are focused on ensuring that people have access to the right data to make informed decisions about aged care.

Each user of aged care data has a different perspective in this. It is critical that the aged care data system meets the needs of people using aged care (and their representatives), the providers and services delivering care, as well as other data users, particular governments and researchers.

 

What is happening next?

Over the next few years, we are working towards target dates to progress each component of the work:

Component	Activity	Target date
National Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy	Public release of Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024⁠–⁠2029 and Action Plan	2024
Aged Care National Data Standards	Public release of NMDS V1.0	July 2023
	Public release of NMDS V2.0 and NBPDS V1.0  (to commence with the start of the new Aged Care Act)	Oct 2025
	Finalising scope and priorities for the NMDS V3.0 and NBPDS V2.0	2026
	Consultation and data development work	Ongoing
	Public release of NMDS V3.0 and NBPDS V2.0	2026
National Aged Care Data Asset (NACDA)	AIHW Ethics Committee approval for establishment	Late 2022
	First iteration of data asset available for researchers to access via AIHW’s National Health Data Hub	Oct 2024
	Publish preliminary analysis of data asset as a data resource profile	June 2025
	Consultation on further expansion and governance of the data asset	Ongoing

 

What do the NMDS and NBPDS cover?

The Aged Care NMDS V2.0 and NBPDS V1.0 data standards were released via METEOR in October 2025.

Aged Care National Minimum Dataset V2.0

Aged Care National Best Practice Set V1.0

The revised content in the NMDS V2.0 data standards focus on changes to align with the Aged Care Act 2024. These revisions include changes to provider data items to reflect:

• The new aged care regulatory model
• The new Single Assessment System for aged care
• The Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT)
• The replacement of the Home Care Packages (HCP) program by the Support at Home Program

The Aged care NBPDS will be expanded over time, with new data elements added, as agreed with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Version 1 contains items specific to the diversity of people accessing aged care services, the aged care workforce and aged care provider financial information.

The diagram below shows the broad areas of data standards reflected in the Aged Care NMDS and NBPDS.

A PDF copy of the Aged Care NMDS V2.0 and NBPDS V.1.0 data standards are also available for download here. The fact sheet below outlines a quick introduction to the NMDS and its implementation.

What have we learned so far?

We have built our understanding of exactly what data improvement is needed and what the priorities are. We have been consulting widely with the aged care sector, and seeking advice and input from government, aged care providers, peak bodies, researchers and the public. In early 2022, we circulated an issues paper and survey.

The feedback we heard has informed our understanding of data gaps and where data improvement is most needed. Find out more about what we learned from our initial consultations here:

In late 2022, our consultation activities focused on the core elements of the data strategy. We heard from over 400 stakeholders representing aged care providers, researchers and consumers, as well as other organisations. These insights helped to inform the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029. This work is summarised in the document below and reflected in the data and digital strategy and NMDS data standards.

How can I access the National Aged Care Data Asset?

The NACDA is available for both government and non-government researchers to access via the National Health Data Hub. The key steps for access are:

• Eligibility – check the project aligns with eligibility requirements and approved uses for the NHDH.
• Ethics – most non-government projects require an additional Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approval (see NHDH frequently asked questions).
• Proposal – submit a project proposal to [email protected] (see NHDH Resources for template).
• Approval – AIHW facilitate approvals from the NHDH data custodian, the AIHW Ethics Committee delegate and the NHDH Advisory Committee.
• Onboarding – researchers complete NHDH onboarding training (conducted monthly) before they can access data through the secure access environment.

For more information, see NHDH researcher access, eligibility & costs.