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Concept help - Data Element

Table of Contents

A Data Element is a precise way of defining how a piece of data is recorded for a specific set of objects, using reusable metadata components. Data Elements are composed of a Data Element Concept, which describes the meaning of the data, and a Value Domain which describes how the data is recorded.

A data element represents the union of a Data Element Concept and a Value Domain. The following examples demonstrate how a concept can be paired with values to capture detailed information, e.g. Person — date of birth, DDMMYYYY, Person — country of birth, code Australian Standard Classification of Countries NNNN and Person — religious affiliation, code Religious Affiliation Standard 2012 NNNN.

The same data element concept may be paired with various sets of values to form different data elements and thereby customising the way information is specified for collection. For example the concept of Occupation may be associated with a value domain which references the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations and be collected at different digit levels representing the Major Group, Sub-Major Group, Minor Group, Unit Group or Occupation.

Data elements may stand alone or be associated with other item types such as Data Element Derivations.

ISO/IEC 11179-3 Section 11.5.2.1

Data_Element is a class each instance of which models a data element (3.2.28), a unit of data (3.2.27) that is considered in context to be indivisible.

A Data_Element is considered to be a basic unit of data of interest to an organisation. It is a unit of data for which the definition, identification, representation, and permissible values are specified by means of a set of attributes.

A Data_Element is formed when a Data_Element_Concept (11.5.2.2) is assigned a representation. One of the key components of a representation is the Value_Domain (11.5.2.3), i.e., restricted valid values.

Fields available on this metadata type

Field ISO definition
Name The primary name used for human identification purposes.
Definition Representation of a concept by a descriptive statement which serves to differentiate it from related concepts. (3.2.39)
Is Federated
Is Not Federable
Version Unique version identifier of this metadata item.
References Significant documents that contributed to the development of the metadata item which were not the direct source for the metadata content.
Origin The source (e.g. document, project, discipline or model) for the item (8.1.2.2.3.5)
Comments Descriptive comments about the metadata item (8.1.2.2.3.4)
Deleted The date after which the item has been soft deleted and is no longer visible in the registry
Data Element Concept binds with a Data_Element_Concept that provides the meaning for the Data_Element
Value Domain binds with a Value_Domain that describes a set of possible values that may be recorded in an instance of the Data_Element

Custom Fields

Field Short definition Long definition
Executive Data Steward The Executive Data Steward responsible for the data element.
Obligation: Optional To facilitate unambiguous identification of data stewards, and provide Executive Data Stewards with insight into the data for which they are accountable. Executive Data Stewards are responsible for coordinating data governance at the divisional level. They manage data specifically relating to their position and authority, and the business outcomes their business units need to deliver. Functions of an Executive Data Steward include promoting compliance with legislation and information management policies and managing data related risks and issues. Provide the position and branch of the SES Band 1 with accountability for the data asset. A position and branch name is preferred to an individual’s contact because it is enduring and minimises the need to regularly update metadata records. For example: NM Data Strategy and Governance Branch
Business Data Steward The Business Data Steward responsible for the data element.
Obligation: Optional To facilitate unambiguous identification of data stewards, and provide Business Data Stewards with insight into the data for which they are responsible. Business data stewards are responsible for the day-to-day management and use of the data asset from a business perspective. Business Data Stewards ensure all data assets are appropriately registered, approve access to data assets and related information assets, and act as a point of contact for information about data assets. Provide the section name of the Business Data Steward with responsibility for the data asset. The Business Data Steward role is commonly fulfilled by an executive level employee. A section name is preferred to an individual’s contact because it is enduring and minimises the need to regularly update metadata records. For example: Data Management Operations Section
Information Class The dataset includes current and historical information relating to the following classes of information.

Class of information

Description

Identifiers

Identifiers required to (anonymously) identify individuals, properties, or organisations.

Demographics

Gender, Date of Birth, Indigeneity, Country of Birth, Interpreter/Preferred Languages, Date of death, vulnerability indicators (such as ex-prisoner status, homeless).

Relationships

All known relationships (such as partners, children, parents, siblings, carer/caree, nominees) and dependencies, relationship type, start and end dates, relationship status and relationship qualifier, eligibility/qualification information associated with the relationship (such as qualifying child or caree), principal care, shared care, foster care arrangements.

Location

Postcode, suburb, community, state, country, address type, geocoded information (such as ASGS classifications) remoteness indicator/classifications, Centrelink office, goal/correctional facility indicator.

Residency

Residency status, country of citizenship, visa subclass, travel outside of Australia/location, nature of departure and reason and dates of changes.

Accommodation

All information about home ownership and accommodation status (such as home owner, boarding/sharing, renting, homeless, home vacated date and reason), reason for exemption or type of review activity, homelessness details.

Rental

All information about rental circumstances (such as rent type, rent paid and frequency).

Income and earnings

All income and earnings from any source (such as parental income, maintenance income, family income, taxable income),  the dates and amounts of the income and earnings, the details of the source and taxability of the income and earnings and whether earnings data was verified, and the source of verification.

Employment

Information about current and past employers, date of earnings, amount and frequency of earnings, employment type, employment status, hours worked, (anonymous) employer information (such as business/entity type, location) and whether earnings data was verified, and the source of verification.

Assets

All financial and non-financial assets, asset type, amount, start and end dates.

Debts

Date of determination, value, period and current status of debt, debt repayment information (type and amount).

Benefit entitlements and payments

All current and former benefit/payment, service reason and concession card status history, payment qualification/sub-type/award/categories paid under, payment histories, payment duration, dates and frequency of payments, dates paid to, deductions from payments, basic and supplementary payments, amount of payments, assessed (notional and actual) daily and fortnightly entitlements – type, amount, start and end dates, rate type, maximum payment rate, rate calculations, rate of entitlement including reason, Means testing - income/asset test reductions, means testing free areas, exemptions and offsets.

Eligibility

Information that is required to determine a customers eligibility for benefits and payments.

As the eligibility covers a multiple benefits it can include a wide range of data including study/apprenticeship details, education level attained, boarding arrangements, independence assessments, medical conditions/assessments, job capacity, disability, carer/caree assessments, activity test, activity types, program/employment service referrals, vulnerabilities/circumstances impacting compliance, principal carer details, Income Bank/Working Credit/Work Bonus accruals, depletions/balances, Waiting periods/types, payment type, claim dates, waiver/exemption indicators/reasons, grandfathering/savings provisions, bereavement periods, reporting type/frequency, immunisation details, payment reconciliation outcomes.

Income Management

All information related to Income Management (such as initiative/measure, participation type and status, exemptions from participation, voluntary/compulsory participation, locations, amounts quarantined, payment delivery methods, access methods for income managed funds  ).

Name

All names, aliases and former names.

Location – exact address

Street address, geocoded information (such as latitude/longitude, GNAF or other geocoding identifier).

Operational

A set of data generated for managing and organizing records to support general administrative functions, distinct from data collected or reported for individuals-specific purposes under social security law.

Quality

A class of information used for data validation and quality assurance to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

Official Definition

A unit of data that is considered in context to be indivisible. ISO/IEC 11179 - Clause 3.2.28