This joint COSS submission provides comment on the Productivity Commission Issues Paper Data Availability and Use.

The community services sector is a unique and valuable component of Australia’s economy and society. It offers programs and services to help people overcome disadvantage and poverty, advocates for policy solutions, supports a wide range of people with multiple and complex needs, and generates significant income, employment and social capital.
Authoritative and reliable sources of data are fundamental to developing the programs and service delivery undertaken by the community services sector. Good use of data makes it possible to tackle complex, intergenerational and entrenched disadvantage and inequality.

The Councils are particularly interested in the potential of better data sharing, data quality and data analysis to improve the capacity of community services to deliver better long-term outcomes for vulnerable and at-risk groups within our community, while ensuring appropriate safeguards to manage associated risks.