Technical reports

The National Health Data Dictionary (the NHDD) is a national resource which health jurisdictions use to ensure the consistency and comparability of all data collected under the National Health Information Agreement. It is increasingly being used as a resource to standardise data collections that are not mandatory for national collection. It is vital that the health care community continues to standardise the meaning and representation of data used for both clinical purposes and statistical analysis. The use of the NHDD is an important step in this process. With the comparability of data collected based on definitions in the NHDD, information collected by jurisdictions throughout Australia can provide meaningful input to community discussion and public policy debate on health issues in Australia. The aim of such discussion is to improve the quality and safety of health care for all Australians. Version 14 has been downloaded from METeOR which is an internet registry for development, registration and dissemination of metadata based on the latest version of the international standard ISO/IEC 11179 Information technology-Metadata registries (MDR) in 2003. 

The 'National community services data dictionary' is the authoritative source of community services data definitions used where national consistency is required. The dictionary is designed to improve the comparability of data across the community services sector. It is also designed to make data collection activities more efficient by reducing duplication of effort in the field, and more effective by ensuring that information to be collected is appropriate for its purpose.Version 4 expands and updates endorsed data definitions published in Version 3, and implements the latest version of the ISO 11179 standards for metadata registries.

The National health data dictionary (NHDD) is a national resource which health jurisdictions use to ensure the consistency and comparability of all data collected under the National Health Information Agreement. It is increasingly being used as a resource to standardise data collections that are not mandatory for national collection. 

The National Housing Assistance Data Dictionary is an important part of the national data infrastructure for housing assistance information development. It provides the basis for consistent national data and is designed to make data collection activities more efficient and effective. It has been compiled by the National Housing Data Development Committee under the broad direction of the National Housing Data Agreement Management Group.Version 3 of the Dictionary is more extensive than previous versions, with the incorporation of new data items related to Indigenous housing, financial reporting and community housing and the specification of performance indicators under the 2003 Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement National Performance Indicator Framework. In addition, it also includes updated data standards and data items from the previous two versions and details of the main housing assistance data collections.

The National Health Data Dictionary, version 12, supplement contains modifications and new items endorsed since Version 12 of the data dictionary was published. Version 12 supplement lists definitions for all the National Minimum Data Sets agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at a national level in Australia's health sector. This version of the Dictionary includes a number of nationally endorsed data definitions for use by clinicians.

This report is the outcome of a major project conducted by the National Community Services Information Management Group with the financial support of the Community Services Ministers' Advisory Council. The potential benefits of statistical linkage for policy, research and planning purposes are of increasing interest across jurisdictions and in the health and community services sectors. The report raises key issues for wider consideration and discussion concerning the appropriate conduct of statistical linkage projects using community services data and the appropriate mechanisms for the protection of individual privacy.

The National Community Services Data Dictionary, Version 3, contains definitions and data domains that are endorsed as national standards for use by those collecting community services data in Australia. Version 3 introduces metadata items that are common with the National Health Data Dictionary (NHDD) and updates metadata items: some following endorsement by the World Health Assembly of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF); and some to more closely relate to standards used for population and household surveys by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Use of the Dictionary will help ensure that community services data in Australia are uniform and of high quality. The format for metadata items is based on international standards.

The classifications of community services contained in this publication have the potential to improve the quality of Australian community service data and to contribute to policy development and planning within Australia.

National Classifications of Community Services Version 2 contains two separate classifications that provide a basis for consistent classification of community services in Australia. These two classifications may be used to classify activities and service delivery settings, or they may be used in conjunction to provide a more detailed composite description of activities and how they are delivered.

National Classifications of Community Services Version 2 and its complementary publication, the National Community Services Data Dictionary, will be of interest to program administrators, policy analysts, planners and service providers.

The National Health Data Dictionary, Version 11 contains a summary of changes to Version 10 of the data dictionary.Continued use of the Dictionary will help ensure that data elements are collected uniformly from all services and jurisdictions throughout Australia and thereby improve the quality of information for community discussion and public policy debate on health issues in Australia. The format for data definitions continues to be based on the international standard for defining data elements issued by the International Organisation for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. The full version 11, including both the changed and the unchanged items, is available on the AIHW Knowledgebase - Australia's Health, Community Services and Housing Metadata Registry on the AIHW web site.

Updates the data definitions recommended for use in Australian health data collections, as well as the National Minimum Data Sets agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at a national level. Use of the Dictionary will help ensure that the data are uniform and of high quality. The format for data definitions continues to be based on the international standard for defining data elements issued by the International Organization for Standardization.The Dictionary is also available in a searchable database form on CD and via MeTEOR.