Data Linkage WA

Datasets linked via the WA Data Linkage System Infrastructure

This table lists the datasets approved as part of the Western Australian Data Linkage System (WADLS)infrastructure. Note:

  • It excludesad hoc data linkages that are carried out on a project-specific basis and comprise specific data sets that are not part of the dynamic WADLS.
  • The linkage frequency (see ‘Comments’) is a guide only.
  • The addition and maintenance of non-core linkage infrastructure to the WADLS is contingent upon sufficient funding for initial development and ongoing operational costs.

For further information, please contact the DLB A/Program Manager,Alexandra Merchantat phone(08)9222 2370.

Dataset Name & Description / Custodian/Contact / Variable List available / Date range available / On CARES / Comments
“Core” Datasets
Birth Registrations / Alexandra Godfrey (Acting Custodian) / Yes / 1974 - previous month / Y / Linked monthly
/ DLWA website
Death Registrations / Tom Eitelhuber (Contact) / Yes / 1969 - previous month / Y / Linked monthly
/ DLWA website
WA Electoral Roll / Yes / 1988 - previous quarter / Y / Linked quarterly
DLWA website / Only last ‘current elector’ record released
Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (HMDC) / Jessica George (Acting Custodian) / Yes / 1970 - 6 months ago / Y / Linked monthly
/ DLWA website / ~6 month lag on records being coded and entered into HMDS
Mental Health Data Collection (MHDC) / Jo Harman (Acting Custodian) / Yes / 1966 - 2014 (old format, person based)
2014 - 6 months ago (new format, event based) / N / Linked quarterly
/ DLWA website / ~6 month lag on records, in line with HMDS
WA Cancer Registry / John Dowling (Manager) / Yes / 1982 - previous month / Y / Linked monthly
/ DLWA website
Midwives Notification System (MNS) / Maureen Hutchinson (Custodian) / Yes / 1980 - Dec 2014 / Y / Linked monthly but a lag exists in data completeness
/ DLWA website
Emergency Dept Data Collection (EDDC) / Christopher Joyce (Acting Custodian) / Yes / 2002 - previous month / Y / Linked monthly
/ DLWA website
Other WA Health Datasets
Breastscreen WA (BSWA) / Helen Lund (Custodian) / No / 1989 - July 2015 / N / No regular linkage schedule.
/ Contact Custodian
Janette Tresham (Contact)

Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System (HWSS) / Sarah Joyce / Yes / 2002 - previous quarter / N / Linked quarterly.
/ DLWA website
Home and Community Care (HACC) / Rob Willday (Custodian)
/ Yes
Contact DLB Client Services / 2004 - 2014 / Y / Linked annually.
Hospital Pharmacy Data / Gillian Babe (Custodian) / Yes / N / No regular linkage schedule.
Ascribe / / Contact Custodian / 1999 - 2009
iPharmacy / Karen Phillips (contact) / 2009 - 2013

Monitoring of Drugs of Dependence System (MODDS) / Neil Keen (Custodian) / Yes / 1998 - 2015 / N / Linked annually.
/ Contact DLB Client Services
Susan Gontaszewski (Contact)

State Trauma Registries / No / N / Linked annually.
Royal Perth Hospital / Maxine Burrell / Contact Custodians / Aug 1994 - Dec 2014

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Sandra Spensley / Oct 1996 - Dec 2014

Princess Margaret Hospital / Brennan Ta / Dec 1997 - Dec 2015

Fremantle Hospital / Jane Scurr / Dec 1996 - Dec 2013

Joondalup Hospital / Glynis Porter / Jan 2010 - Dec 2013

Fiona Stanley Hospital / Amanda Foster / Not yet linked

WA Notifiable Infectious Diseases Database (WANIDD) / Gary Dowse (Custodian) / Yes / 1988 - May 2015 / N / Linked annually.
/ Contact DLB Client Services
Carolien Giele (Contact)

WA Register of Developmental Anomalies (WARDA) - Birth Defects / Co-custodians: / Yes / 1980 - April 2016 / Y / Linked annually. Applicants must submit separate lay summary to Custodian.
Hugh Dawkins / DLWA website

Gareth Baynam (also Contact for Birth Defects)
WA Register of Developmental Anomalies (WARDA) - Cerebral Palsy / / Yes / 1980 - May 2016 / Y
DLWA website
Linda Watson (Contact Cerebral Palsy)

Other WA Government Datasets
Department for Child Protection and Family Support / Kaija Pay (Contact) / Yes / 1994 - 2015 / N / Restricted to Developmental Pathways Projects.
/ Email contact for current list
Department of Corrective Services (DoCS) - Adult Justice / / Yes / 1985 - 2014 / N / Linked annually.
Contact DLB Client Services / Restricted to Developmental Pathways Projects.
Department of Corrective Services (DoCS) – Juvenile Justice / Yes / 1980 - 2014 / N / Applicants must also apply to the DoCS Research Evaluation Committee (REC).
Contact DLB Client Services
Department of the Attorney General (DotAG) – Courts Data / 1993 - 2015 / N / Linked annually.
No / Restricted to Developmental Pathways Projects.
Monica Cass (Contact) / Email Contact for current list / Applicants must also apply to the DotAG Research Application and Advisory Committee (RAAC).

Variables to be discussed with the Department project by project.
Department of Education (DoE) – Attendance & Suspension / Alan Dodson / Yes / 2008 - 2012 / Y / Linked annually.
/ Contact DLB Client Services / Restricted to Developmental Pathways Projects.
Applicants require approval from DoE to access data held by DoE.
Department of Transport (DoT) – Licensing Data / Christopher Davers / No / 1985 - 2014 / N / Applicants must receive approval to access data held by DoT.
/ Contact Custodian
Insurance Commission WA(ICWA) Injury Claims Data / Robert Marchesi / Yes / 1985 - 2015 / N / Linked monthly.
/ Contact DLB Client Services / Applicants must receive approval from ICWA.
Other Datasets
Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) / Yes / 2009, 2012 / Census taken every three years & linked approximately 1-2 years after completion.
Rebecca Tadman / Email contact for list / N
/ See application process at
Intellectual Disability: Exploring Answers Database (IDEA) / Helen Leonard (Custodian) / Yes / 1983 - 2014 / N / Linked annually.
/ Contact DLB Client Services
Jenny Bourke (Contact)

Playgroups WA / David Zarb / No / 2006 - 2012 / N / No linkage schedule currently.
/ Contact DLB Client Services / Restricted to Developmental Pathways Projects.
Silver Chain Nursing Association / Joanna Smith / No / 1993 - May 2016 / N / Linked annually.
/ Contact Custodian
St John Ambulance (SJA) / Co-custodians: / Yes / 1990 - 2013 / No linkage schedule currently.
Contact DLB Client Services / N
Judith Finn / Requires approval from SJA Research Advisory Group.

Paul Bailey

Belinda Thorne (Contact)

Data Linkage Branch Dataset Menu

Last updated 4 December 2018