Aboriginal Data Governance Policy

Applicable to: This policy is applicable to WA health entities.

Description: The purpose of the Aboriginal Data Governance Policy (policy) is to ensure the WA health system recognises the rights of Aboriginal people in Western Australia (WA) to govern the collection, ownership and use of data about their people and communities.

More specifically, the policy recognises Aboriginal people’s trust, expectations, and understanding of data ownership, including the ownership of Aboriginal personal and community information in accordance with the Government’s Aboriginal data sovereignty commitments in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

This policy establishes the Aboriginal Data Governance Model which outlines the requirements for collecting, accessing, using or disclosing Aboriginal data within the WA health system, in line with Part 17 of the Health Services Act 2016 and other relevant legislation.

Legislation pertinent to this policy includes:

  • Public Sector Management Act 1994
  • Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024
  • Freedom of Information Act 1992
  • State Records Act 2000
  • Copyright Act 1968
  • Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024
  • Privacy Act 1988 (Cwth)
  • Public Health Act 2016.

This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Information Management Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(k) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This policy is also a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

This policy is to be read in conjunction with the following:

This policy does not apply when the access, use or disclosure of Aboriginal data is:

 

 

Date of effect: 27 May 2025

Policy Framework

Related documents

Supporting information