Supporting Health, Education, Social, and Economic Research and Policy in South Australia and the Northern Territory

Delivering high quality linked data for evidence-based research and policy evaluation

Deed/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Data access and use: Deeds of Agreement and MOUs

In accordance with the SA NT Data Linkage Consortium Agreement, formally signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and/or Deed of Agreements are required with each Agency providing data into the enduring Master Linkage File.

SA NT DataLink are required to support all conditions set by Data Custodians on the use of data made available to researchers and analysts for approved statistical linkage and data integration projects. Data Custodians and SA NT DataLink work together to support de-identified data access and use, with agreed conditions under which data will be managed, linked and provided. 

A schedule to the MoU/Deed lists the details of each personally identifying linkage variable to be provided to the Data Linkage Unit, and the frequency of updates. The linkage variables that are made available to SA NT DataLink for the purpose of enabling privacy protected data linkage through adding of that datasets records into the Master Linkage File. 

The MoU/Data Access Agreement is usually signed at CE level, with the Schedules are signed by the Data Custodian and the Director SA NT DataLink. 

For South Australian Government data being added into the Master Linkage File, the approval of the Privacy Committee of South Australia is required. For more information, please refer to a brief summary of the steps for adding datasets into the Master Linkage File.

SA NT DataLink has Deeds/MoUs in place with a number of Agencies who have agreed to make data available for statistical data linkage and data integration projects. Please refer to the online listing of the Available datasets.


Data Access and Use: Restrictions on length of time for access and use by Researchers and Analysts.

The release of data for specific research studies or analysis, including the release of de-identifying Project Specific Linking Keys (PSLKs) by the SA NT DataLink Data Linkage Unit, and the length of time or requirement to dispose of data, is approved by each participating Data Custodian responsible for approving the release of their organisations data, and Ethical approval.

The actual length of time and the requirement to dispose or destroy the data is agreed in accordance with the Ethical (Human Research Ethics Committee) and Data Custodian approvals.