Data improvements

Last updated: 16 February 2024

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 and Aged Care and AIHW have partnered to develop:

National Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy	Following initial feedback that the data and digital strategy should be considered in tandem, the initially two separate strategies on data and digital elements have been combined. The draft Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy outlines the Department of Health and Aged Care’s approach to developing data and digital foundations for the aged care systems. The strategy is expected to be launched in 2024. This link contains the site for the draft Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy: Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Aged Care National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)	The NMDS is a core set of standardised data elements agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at a national level about aged care. The data items are available for download.
National Aged Care Data Asset	The data asset is a multi-source enduring linked data set that integrates people-centred data related to aged care.

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?

The timeline below shows the broad approach we are taking to prioritise, consult on and ultimately implement aged care data improvements.

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	Consultation (round 1) on core elements of the strategy	Late 2022
	Consultation (round 2) on draft strategy	Mid 2023
	Public release of National Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy	2024
Aged Care National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)	Finalising scope and priorities for the NMDS V1.0 (NMDS 2023–24)	Mid 2022
	Consultation and data development work	2023
	Public release of NMDS V1.0 (NMDS 2023–24)	July 2023
	Finalising scope and priorities for the NMDS V2.0 (NMDS 2024–25)	Mid 2023
	Consultation and data development work	Ongoing
	Public release of NMDS V2.0 (NMDS 2024–25)	July 2024
	Finalising scope and priorities for the NMDS V3.0 (NMDS 2025–26)	Mid 2024
	Consultation and data development work	Ongoing
	Public release of NMDS V3.0 (NMDS 2025–26)	July 2025
National Aged Care Data Asset	AIHW Ethics Committee approval for establishment	Late 2022
	Phase 1 of Data Asset undergoing linkage	2024
	Develop data governance framework and access arrangements	Mid 2024
	Preliminary analysis paper released	End 2024
	Consultation on further expansion of the data asset	Ongoing

How will the NMDS be implemented?

The Aged Care NMDS V1.0 data standards were released via METEOR in June 2023. An updated version (NMDS V1.1) was released via METEOR in January 2024 with small technical revisions to the following 2 data elements:

• Address—physical address indicator, yes/no/not applicable/unknown/not stated/inadequately described code N[N] (787909) (in the Aged care address cluster (775085));
• Person—informal carer existence indicator, yes/no/not applicable/unknown/not stated/inadequately described code N[N] (787901).

In recognition of the impact on the sector, the data standards will be implemented progressively from July 2023 onwards, with work first focused on aligning internal processes within the Department of Health and Aged care with the data standards.

A PDF copy of the Aged Care NMDS V1.1 data standards are also available for download here. The factsheet below outlines a quick introduction to the NMDS and its implementation.

What have we learnt 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 have learnt 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 are helping to inform the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy. This work is summarised in the document below and reflected in the draft data and digital strategy and NMDS data standards.