University of Melbourne becomes first Accredited Data Service Provider university

The Melbourne Institute Data Lab (MIDL) was established in 2021 and went through its first Australian Government security assessment the following year. The lab is a leading research department with over 50 researchers focused on shaping and informing economic and social policy research for more than 60 years.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy said the university acknowledges and respects the responsibility that comes with the title.

“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.

Melbourne Institute at the university has provided specialised data services for over a decade that comprises de-identification and secure data access, and complex data integration. These were the main reasons that it was awarded the title of Accredited Data Service Provider.

“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.

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The accreditation makes the university alongside the state government departments, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and federal institutes who work in the public interest to inform policy and conduct research. With this latest development, the University has become a point of call for researchers who are looking for access to secure and complex data sets.

The researchers and data analysts at Melbourne Institute are experts at statistical analyses, supporting the development and curation of complex data and dissemination of these analyses through papers, reports, and visualisations.

"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 Rajeev Samarage, a Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute.

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