Working with Sensitive Data

Sensitive data is data that can be used to identify an individual, species, object, process or location, and introduces a risk of discrimination, harm or unwanted attention. Often confidential, it can include:
- identifiable personal data
- Indigenous data
- health and medical data
- ecological data
- commercial data.
While potentially beneficial to research, sensitive data is commonly subject to legal and ethical obligations that impose restrictions on how it is accessed, used and handled. The data often can’t simply be published and made openly accessible. But metadata records can help with sharing sensitive information, if the records describe the data without directly reporting any of the confidential information.
ARDC Resources for Working with Sensitive Data
Explore our resources for best-practice advice on accessing, using, publishing and sharing sensitive data ethically.
Australian Sensitive Data Interest Group (AUSDIG)
Co-facilitated by the Australian Data Archive (ADA), Population Health Research Network (PHRN), Melbourne Data Analytics Platform (MDAP) and ARDC, the Australian Sensitive Data Interest Group (AUSDIG) provides an opportunity for anyone interested in discussing the challenges and strategies for managing sensitive data. Meeting every month, it rotates through such topics related to sensitive data as ethics and governance, technology, and best practices.