Peel River - Tamworth NSW. This image is for exclusive use by Aboriginal Affairs NSW. Please contact us for usage requests.
Data is more than information. It reflects Aboriginal Peoples and Communities, and their experiences and Connection to Country. Data helps shape how decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how outcomes are measured over time.
Across NSW Government, there is a large amount of data relating to Aboriginal Peoples, culture, economies, and Country. However, this information is often difficult to find, spread across multiple agencies, and not always visible.
The Aboriginal Data Discovery Portal is a resource to share with Aboriginal Communities some of the data and information that NSW Government holds. The portal is a place for Aboriginal Communities to come and explore what data might be of priority and learn how to access it.
When Aboriginal Peoples, Communities, and Organisations can see what government-held data is available, it becomes easier to:
- Identify information that supports local priorities
- Understand what evidence is available for planning and decision-making
- Engage with government with a clearer understanding of available information
The Aboriginal Data Discovery Portal is about making government-held data easier to find and understand—supporting stronger, more informed use of information to drive community-led outcomes.
If you need help navigating the portal, please reach out to our team at NSWDataConnectors@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
There are two types of data listed on the Aboriginal Data Discovery Portal:
- Open data: Open data is information that is freely available to the public. All open data listed on the portal will have a link that will take you directly to the data source. Open data may not always have all the information you need. If that is the case, please reach out to us at NSWDataConnectors@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
- Closed data: Closed data often has extra details that require privacy or sensitivity considerations. Closed data can still be accessed through a data request via the NSW Data Connector Service.
If you’re not sure where to start, or want to talk through your data needs, please reach out to us at NSWDataConnectors@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
Explore what's available
People
Information about Aboriginal People, Communities, and lived experiences across NSW.
Country
Information about land, water, and environment, and how Country is managed and cared for.
Culture
Information about culture, knowledge, and connection to Country.
Economy
Information about jobs, funding, and economic activity.
The Aboriginal Data Discovery Portal only displays some of the data available from NSW Government, and we will continue to add to the Portal over time. If you want to access any of the data on the portal or are seeking other data, you can connect with the NSW Data Connector Service for help.
The Data Connector Service provides a single point of contact to support Aboriginal Peoples, Communities and Organisations to navigate and access government-held data. The Service can help you:
- Understand what and how data may support your priorities
- Clarify what information is available and suitable for your needs
- Prepare and refine a data request
- Work across government agencies to coordinate access to data
This portal is a first step in improving visibility of government-held data and information.
We know there is more to do to ensure this work reflects Aboriginal Community priorities, expectations and worldviews. We are continuing to work closely with Aboriginal Peoples, Communities and Organisations across NSW to shape how this portal develops over time.