Data is valuable, but only if you know it’s there and how to use it. Like gold buried underground, its worth remains locked away unless you know where to dig. For governments, that means the real value isn’t just in the data itself, but in knowing what exists, where it lives, who owns it, and how it can be safely shared.
In New South Wales, the state’s Metadata.NSW platform is showing how strong metadata foundations can unlock smarter, safer, and more transparent data sharing.
Is NSW leading the charge in metadata maturity?
Since 2018, the NSW Government has partnered with Aristotle Metadata to build a unified metadata platform, Metadata.NSW, that spans the entire state’s public sector. What began as a proof of concept has grown into one of Australia’s most advanced metadata registries, now supporting more than 40 government agencies.
As a cornerstone of the state’s data strategy, this whole-of-government solution is a significant step forward for data maturity across the public sector. It plays a critical role in supporting cross-agency data sharing, improving data discoverability, and increasing trust in the way the government uses data. The platform makes it easier for the public service to see what data exists across different silos and, in turn, identify the right people to approach for access.
The recent renewal of a three-year contract with Aristotle Metadata reflects both the NSW commitment to metadata maturity and its confidence in Aristotle Metadata as an expert in enabling secure, standards-based transformation.
Transparency, efficiency, and trust: all through metadata
Metadata is the context that makes data usable. Without it, datasets remain locked away in silos, duplications creep in, and opportunities for collaboration are lost. The Metadata.NSW platform addresses this by delivering:
- Standardisation: consistent documentation of datasets across agencies.
- Discoverability: making high-value data easy to find when it matters most.
- Security and compliance: ensuring data can be shared responsibly and with confidence.
- Trust: giving decision-makers and citizens assurance that the data behind government action is transparent and reliable.
By making metadata simple to record, search, and govern, Metadata.NSW reduces duplication, speeds up onboarding, and lowers the barrier for agencies to participate in data sharing.
Aristotle Metadata: trusted experts in safer data sharing.
Metadata.NSW’s technical partner, Aristotle Metadata, has been recognised nationally for its leadership in metadata management. The Aristotle Metadata Registry is built to ISO/IEC 11179 standards, ensuring interoperability and scalability across government use cases. This core value of alignment to standards supports critical data literacy skills development within government, while easing hesitancy for IT teams by reducing dependence on any one vendor as they move to the cloud.
Aristotle’s track record speaks for itself. From delivering Metadata.NSW to winning the 2024 ACT AIIA Award for the platform itself, and being named “Data/Server Security Business of the Year” at the 2024 Australian Cyber Security Awards, their philosophy is people-first. It’s about outcomes for communities. By combining technical rigour with a commitment to citizen trust, Aristotle Metadata is proving that smarter data sharing can also be safer data sharing.
From evidence based policy to closing the gap.
The impact of metadata in NSW isn’t theoretical, it’s already driving better outcomes. A notable example is the Human Services Dataset, which consolidated 27 years of inter-agency data on children and families. Through Metadata.NSW, this critical information became more discoverable and usable, giving policymakers a clearer evidence base to inform services.
Metadata has also played a role in strengthening outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Independent reporting shows NSW is now leading in “Closing the Gap” improvements, supported by better access to high-quality, discoverable data. Metadata.NSW has been a key enabler of this progress, ensuring that data is not only available but also trustworthy and contextualised.
Metadata as a foundation for digital transformation
For NSW, metadata is more than a technical tool. It’s a strategic asset. The NSW Data Strategy highlights four pillars: improving citizen outcomes, treating data as an asset, fostering leadership, and strengthening trust. None of these ambitions can be realised without a strong metadata foundation.
Metadata.NSW provides that foundation. By aligning agencies around international standards and creating a single registry for governance, lineage, and ownership, the platform makes data easier to manage, share, and apply to real-world challenges. It transforms metadata from an afterthought into an enabler of digital government.
NSW’s progress offers a blueprint for other jurisdictions. The message is simple: metadata matters. By investing in platforms that make data transparent, discoverable, and shareable, governments can deliver better services, build stronger collaboration across departments, and strengthen public confidence.
With a new contract in place and agency participation expanding, the next challenge is awareness. Many government teams are still unaware that Metadata.NSW is live and ready to support their work. The more agencies that participate, the stronger the benefits for the state and its citizens.
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