University of Melbourne becomes first university to be made an Accredited Data Service Provider

The University of Melbourne will become a gateway for data researchers after becoming the first university to be awarded the title of Accredited Data Service Provider by the Australian Government’s Office of The National Data Commissioner.

The accreditation allows the University to become a point of call for researchers wanting access to complex and secure data sets. The Melbourne Institute Data Lab (MIDL) at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic & Social Research will facilitate this data sharing service.

The announcement places the University of Melbourne alongside other select state government departments, federal institutes and the Australian Bureau of Statistics who work in the public interest to conduct research and inform policy.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy said the University of Melbourne acknowledges and respects the responsibility that comes with being a secure gateway to valuable data belonging to all Australians.

“With a strong history of understanding best practices for data preparation, establishing appropriate infrastructure, compliant data security management and better engagement with data custodians, the University of Melbourne, through the Melbourne Institute, is in a strong position to support the Australian Government’s objectives of establishing integrity and transparency in the sharing of public sector data,” Professor Cassidy said.

The Melbourne Institute, located at the University’s Faculty of Business and Economics, has provided specialised data services for over a decade, including complex data integration, de-identification and secure data access, which are core requirements to becoming accredited by The National Data Commissioner.

“By providing a gateway to data, we will help more researchers achieve research impact through the ability to test hypotheses that will further our being able to tackle Australia’s social and economic challenges, and critical policy issues. As we are a part of one of the country’s leading research institutions, we will provide this service in an impartial and cooperative way,” said Melbourne Institute Director Professor A. Abigail Payne.

MIDL was established in 2021 and went through its first Australian Government security assessment the following year. MIDL’s home is at the Melbourne Institute, a leading research department with over 50 researchers focused on shaping and informing economic and social policy research for more than 60 years. The Melbourne Institute’s researchers and data analysts are expert at supporting the development and curation of complex data, statistical analyses, the dissemination of these analyses through papers, reports, and visualisations.

Dr Rajeev Samarage, a Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute, said MIDL will provide a valuable service to researchers across the country.

“We look forward to welcoming enquiries from researchers who are looking to understand the issues faced by Australians. We can help them access and analyse complex data and present it in a way that is secure but useful. At MIDL, we are wrapping researcher experience with industry expertise in cybersecurity and governance to create an environment that adheres to privacy and ethics of data collected by our government agencies and industry,” said Dr Samarage.