Collaboration is the key​ to digital equality 

Last year, not-for-profits (NFPs), research bodies and the charity regulator made more than 100 submissions to the Blueprint Expert Reference Group (BERG) in an effort to provide perspective to the Government on how to chart out a better future for the sector, and the vulnerable communities of Australia which the sector represents. 

A synthesis of the submissions underscored that key priorities for today's NFP sector include fostering collaboration and enhancing digital and data capabilities, especially as it contends with limited resources and broadening inequality gaps. 

Respondents made clear recommendations that to make the most of existing insights, we need more effective and routine sharing of data collected by government. NFPs are required to submit evidence but receive little back about its context in breaking cycles of disadvantage for the Australian community.  

First thing’s first: NFPs are grappling with outdated technology and a lack of resources

Strong data capabilities and infrastructure in the NFP sector are essential for assessing and enhancing impact. However, many NFPs lack the infrastructure, tools, resources, and technical expertise to fully harness the power of data.

This limits their ability to track outcomes, assess program effectiveness, and make better, data-driven decisions. This in turn hampers the sector’s ability to demonstrate impact and restricts the potential for innovation, growth, and service improvement.  

In the BERG Blueprint synthesis report, many NFPs noted that resources and government programs that support digital capabilities were made available for the small business sector but weren’t made accessible for NFPs.  

To navigate the increasing complexity of societal, political, and environmental challenges, NFPs must have access to data tools and resources. Without immediate investment in digital infrastructure, the sector is at risk of falling further behind, limiting our capacity to deliver impactful, innovative solutions for the communities that need it most.

Unlocking the power of data 

Many NFPs, particularly those in social services such as homelessness, domestic violence, or employment programs, are already collecting highly valuable data on their clients and services.

That data could help them provide more targeted services and better understand changing needs of the community.  

While NFPs routinely submit data to government departments to meet funding and compliance requirements, they rarely gain access to aggregated data sets in return. This lack of visibility into broader trends prevents them from identifying systemic issues, regional disparities, or new opportunities for service improvement.  

For instance, a charity focused on youth homelessness might gather information on the demographics of its beneficiaries and the results of its programs. However, without access to broader data sets such as employment trends, housing availability, and national support services, the organisation may find it difficult to identify where its efforts can have the greatest impact. 

A youth employment organisation could significantly improve its job training programs if it had access to real-time workforce participation data and current labour market trends, enabling them to design more targeted interventions.

However, what’s working in keeping young people employed in a Western suburban area of Melbourne, may not work for Launceston in Tasmania, demonstrating the need for location-specific data to tailor services appropriately.

Through data mapping, we can visualise where industries are located and demographics of young people, so NFPs can tailor local programs to match job availability in specific regions. This would ensure services could meet the needs of young people and align with regional employment opportunities, paving the way for more sustainable career pathways through a place-based approach.  

We are part of the Data Catalyst Network - a collective of more than 200 data-driven NFPs, academic and government participants created with the support of the Paul Ramsay Foundation to boost the data capability of the sector. As part of that network, we’re working on a data analysis initiative in partnership with Youth Projects, Mission Australia, the University of Melbourne, and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.  

In the coming months, this data will be available via YouthView - a University of Melbourne project that aims to measure youth disadvantage and employment at a community and regional level – giving NFPs the insights they need to refine and optimise their services.

Without access to such data, NFPs risk misallocating resources and missing key opportunities for systemic change. By leveraging comprehensive data sets, organisations can identify gaps, account for regional differences, and design more impactful, targeted interventions.

This approach enhances service delivery and ensures that government resources are used more efficiently, achieving better value for money by directing funding toward initiatives that address real local needs.  

Data can help NFPs identify systemic gaps, explore regional differences, and collaborate to design more effective interventions.   

How to better collaborate on data sharing 

During roundtables of the Data Catalyst Network, many NFPs stressed the frustrations of facing “challenging” bureaucratic hurdles in accessing deidentified data that could dramatically improve their work.  

To improve collaboration, governments should streamline data access with faster approval processes and create centralised platforms for sharing de-identified data. NFPs, in turn, should invest in their data capabilities to fully leverage shared data, and have clear value propositions when requesting access. 

A dedicated national fund for NFP technology improvements would further enhance their ability to collaborate and increase impact. 

Successful collaborations such as the data-sharing initiative pioneered by The Smith Family and its Learning for Life Program and the South Australian Department for Education which resulted in the Education Dashboard South Australia (EDSA), highlight what’s possible when NFPs have access to real-time data.

By building an Education Dashboard, this partnership enables staff to provide more targeted and timely support to students facing disadvantage. 

There are around 67,000 financially disadvantaged students around Australia in the Learning for Life program, and The Smith Family and the SA Department for Education are both committed to addressing educational inequality. There was a clear alignment on social goals and data needs, accelerating the data sharing process. 

The project involved the department building and hosting a dashboard of real-time data on students on the Learning for Life program in SA, tracking school attendance, numeracy, literacy and behaviour management incidents.  

The dashboard was made available to front-line Smith Family staff who work with students and families, enabling them to provide more targeted and more timely support, particularly when problems emerge.

The data sharing required parent/carer consent, with an impressive 95% consent rate to utilise the data for this purpose. Two years on, team members rate EDSA as very useful for supporting their work with students, families, and school.  

Data stewardship is key  

While NFPs have expressed frustrations with the long delays in gaining access to data, we know they will have stronger chances of accessing data from governments when secure and well-governed data frameworks are in place.

To build strong data frameworks, there are a myriad of resources available on the Data Catalyst Network Data Toolkit. 

Data-sharing agreements are absolutely critical – and must involve permissions from data owners first. Where NFPs hold or seek access to data about First Nations people, then First Nations data sovereignty principles must be adhered to.  

NFPs also need to ensure that all data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, so it can’t be accessed or tampered with during transmission or storage. Having a data-sharing agreement in place will ensure that all personal or sensitive information that could be used to identify individuals is appropriately secured before sharing.  

Access must be limited to authorised personnel, and agreements must outline clearly how data will be used, who will access it, and what security measures are in place.  

Emphasising the collaboration between government and the NFP sector by sharing insights to tackle shared challenges can ultimately enhance the impact on the communities they support, especially in a sector with limited resources. 

The Blueprint Synthesis Report put it best: “interrelationships between governments and the NFP sector affect shared aspirations for society and the planet.”

We need stronger collaboration, reduced bureaucracies and greater visibility into existing research and programs.

Only then will we be able to close the gap of the rapidly increasing wealth inequality affecting the nation.   

Dr Kristen Moeller-Saxone is Data Catalyst Network lead at Infoxchange – a not-for-profit social enterprise delivering social justice for 35 years through the smart and creative use of technology.

More information

Collaborative data network provides a catalyst for change

Leveraging the power of data to improve the lives of young Australians