The Framework guides the Australian Public Service (APS) in improving governance practices for data related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and aims to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people greater agency over how their data are governed within the APS.
Recognising the importance of data for self-determination, the Framework provides a stepping stone towards greater awareness and acceptance by APS agencies of the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
Initiative overview
The Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles are outlined by the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective and advocate for major changes to how data about, or that may affect, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are promoted, accessed and handled.
The Framework guides Australian Government agencies on how to practically implement and embed those areas of data governance where the objectives of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement and the Australian Government align.
The Framework was developed to change current data governance practices at all stages of the ‘Data Lifecycle’, from conceptualisation (before data are collected) to dissemination and reuse. A key tenet of several actions in the Framework is the need to build capability to engage with and use data, both within the Australian Government and among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Better use of data can then support shared decision making at all points in the data lifecycle.
The Framework is based on the principles of respect for cultural heritage, informed consent, privacy, and trust. It is informed by FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) guiding principles on data management and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) principles which reflect the crucial role of data in self-determination. Each guideline in the Framework will illustrate which aspects of these principles have been employed.
Australian Government agencies are responsible for implementing the actions where reasonably practical within their legislative obligations, and for identifying areas where it is not practical, and why (for example, due to national security, privacy, or compliance-related limitations).
The Framework includes implementation guidelines that seek to influence behaviour, change current practices, and enable the Australian Public Service to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at all levels. The guidelines direct Australian Government agencies to:
- Partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Build data-related capabilities.
- Provide knowledge of data assets.
- Build an inclusive data system.
Other relevant details
Results, outcomes and impacts: The intended outcomes of the Framework include: • Government meaningfully partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across all stages of the data lifecycle. • The APS effectively supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to use their own stories, make their own decisions, and set their own priorities. • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples being able to easily access and use their own data for self-determination and community development. • A more accessible and culturally competent public service that is inclusive, responsive, transparent in relation to Indigenous data.
Challenges and lessons learned: The Framework was co-designed between Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. The NIAA engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting to conduct a Co-Design Lessons Learned Project to identify lessons from the co-design process, with 3 main lessons identified: 1. Embed cultural safety 2. Share power 3. Tailor the Co-design process This report and lessons have been shared as a valuable resource for future projects. Implementation of the Framework commenced in January 2025, with a seven-year implementation period. The Framework calls for a significant transformation, and agencies are at different levels of maturity with regards to their data management and their partnerships with First Nations peoples. Reporting on Year one outcomes showed a commitment to GID implementation across the Australian Public Service and that organisations had taken actions towards, or achieved, outcomes.
Additional Content Results, Outcomes and impacts: Key components of monitoring and accountability for the Framework will include: • Regular internal monitoring mechanisms within each agency, including reporting to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders; • Public reporting on actions through existing or emerging mechanisms; and • Senior executive oversight of progress. Responsibility for the Framework implementation sits with each APS agency, and individual agencies need to put in place their own reporting mechanisms such as their annual report, Reconciliation Action Plan or through the Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan. Challenges and Lessons learned: Organisations demonstrated a spectrum of maturity in terms of data asset governance. Organisation size, resources, capability and data maturity were the main implementation challenges within the first year. A coordinated approach is required to address some of these challenges and is being addressed through the formation of key special interest groups on key subject matter.
