The Health Data Analytics Team (HDAT) is an ANU College of Health and Medicine entity that aims to strengthen and reform health systems through application of quantitative research methods and data analysis to inform policy-maker decision making.

HDAT brings together ANU cross-disciplinary expertise, engaging with policy-making government agencies to conduct projects of national significance. The mission of HDAT is to make a significant contribution to the University’s nation-building tradition through impactful research and data analytics in partnership with public service departments and other organisations operating in the areas of health policy and service delivery.
 

Objectives

Strengthen and reform health and health systems through application of state-of-the-art quantitative research methods and data analysis to inform policy-maker decision making

Our focus includes improving data access through partnership building, exploring a range of emerging and evolving data initiatives, and undertaking analysis with practical policy and programmatic impacts.

HDAT undertakes high impact research projects to inform health policy and program delivery, increases the analytical capacity of public service agencies and improves interpretation of data assets through academic collaboration and cross-disciplinary contributions, promotes the use of large-scale linked and other complex data, and leads and supports data collaboration between ANU research groups, public service agencies and other bodies to improve policy, health outcomes and health systems.

As a research, analytics and policy collaborative, HDAT is committed to:

• Respond to data analytic needs and generate timely evidence when engaging with Commonwealth, state and territory policy departments;
• Enhance data access and data governance;
• Undertake impactful research and data analyses;
• Strengthen partnerships between the College and public service departments and agencies; and,
• Develop both Australian domestic and international partnerships.

Approach

HDAT will be a combination of central and dispersed expert capability within the College of Health and Medicine. HDAT will work closely with research teams within the College of Health and Medicine, including the recently established National Centre for Health Workforce Studies (NCHWS), and more broadly across ANU.

Expertise

HDAT was established in August 2022 and is led by Associate Professor Tomoko Sugiura and Mr Barry Sandison with a combined 50+ years of public service data analytics and leadership. Team members have strong skills and extensive experience in applied statistics, health economics, geospatial analysis, research methods, data stewardship, and delivery of government priority data analytics.

Team members come from a wide range of academic backgrounds and with professional experiences including but not limited to: government data analytics and reporting, data development, health policy, clinical research, global health research, public health research, market research, nursing, teaching, and running workshops.