About Data Linkage Services
The WA Data Linkage System (WADLS) was formally established in 1995 as a collaboration between the Western Australian Department of Health, the University of Western Australia, the Kids Research Institute of Australia, and Curtin University.
Recognising the potential community benefit of using linked health data for research, the initial setup and operational costs were met through grant funding from the Western Australian Lotteries Commission. In 1997 the Department of Health took over as majority funder and established the Data Linkage Branch, now called Data Linkage Services.
Provision of data services is made possible through the expertise and dedication of several teams at the Department of Health. As there has been a rapid increase in the demand for linked data for research and government planning, our directorate has grown and evolved to meet the community’s needs.
Governance
Data Linkage Services is governed by an executive oversight body at the Western Australian Department of Health, with the support of research and health service provider advisory committees.
Data Linkage Services is part of the Population Health Research Network (PHRN), an Australian government collaboration that has built a nationwide data linkage infrastructure.
The PHRN is an initiative of the Australian government, conducted as part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
The Department of Health is also an accredited Data Service Provider for complex data Integration and de-identification services under the Commonwealth DATA Scheme.
Policies
Data Linkage Services are subject to Department of Health information management and research governance policies and procedures. Applicants and data providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the following polices prior to submitting a request for data:
For more information on research governance, visit the Research Governance Service’s Framework page and Help Wiki.
To find out more about WA Health's minimum data linkage standards, please refer to the Data Linkage Policy.