Ordering the Data - Release 6

New Licensing Arrangements for HILDA Release 6

Release 6 of the HILDA data is now available. Due to changes in the access arrangements, prospective users will need to read the following to understand how to obtain access to the dataset.

Feedback from users in the past has indicated that there are a number of problems in relation to some of the provisions set out in the Deed of Licence, particularly in relation to indemnity and intellectual property. Organisations with multiple users have also sought an alternative to the per-user fee structure for licences.

In response to these concerns, the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has developed a new data access policy for its longitudinal datasets. Users will gain access to the data either through organisational licensing arrangements or through individual licensing arrangements.

Ordering the General Release Data through an Organisational Deed of Licence

Under organisational licensing arrangements, organisations sign an Organisational Deed of Licence for access to the HILDA datasets. Individuals within the organisation who require access to the data will sign a shorter Deed of Confidentiality. The Organisational Delegate, the officer responsible for the Deed, nominates a central contact person (a Data Manager) who is responsible for managing the security of the data and regulating access to the data within the organisation. The Data Manager is required to liaise with FaHCSIA on data access issues and provide information to FaHCSIA about the use of the datasets within the organisation.

A major advantage of the organisational licensing arrangements is a better assignment of the rights and responsibilities between the organisation and individual users. It also streamlines access to the data as the datasets would be held on site and be paid for up front.

Information about the new licensing arrangements has been sent to many academic and government organisations. The contact details for organisations which have an Organisational Deed of Licence in place are available here.

Users at an organisation which has an Organisational Deed of Licence will only be able to gain access to the data under the organisational licensing arrangements. They will need to contact the Data Manager at their organisation for the appropriate Deed of Confidentiality and application form to sign.

If your organisation is not listed but you believe your organisation may be interested in signing an Organisational Deed of Licence, please contact FaHCSIA on longitudinalsurveys@fahcsia.gov.au

Users at an organisation which has not signed an Organisational Deed of Licence will still be able to have access to the data under Individual Deeds of Licence. Links to these documents are available below.

As with any legal document, all users should read the licences that they sign and make sure that they fully understand their responsibilities and obligations under the deed. In order to ensure that FaHCSIA’s policy is clear and fully understood all applicants should read the Manual for the Access to and Use of FaHCSIA Longitudinal Survey Datasets.

Some frequently asked questions about ordering the data can be accessed here.

Ordering the General Release Data through an Individual Deed of Licence

The data are provided as SAS datasets, SPSS system files and STATA datasets on a DVD. Full documentation is included.

As with any legal document, all users should read the licences that they sign and make sure that they fully understand their responsibilities and obligations under the deed. In order to ensure that FaHCSIA’s policy is clear and fully understood all applicants should read the Manual for the Access to and Use of FaHCSIA Longitudinal Survey Datasets.

Some frequently asked questions about ordering the data can be accessed here.

To apply for the Release 6 General Release data using an individual license, please click on the type of user that best describes you:

• Australian User
• Overseas User

Australian Users

There are two separate Deeds of Licence for Australian users. Please read the following lists and click on the link for the Deed that you will require.

If you are:

• An academic at an Australian University, Institute of Technology or TAFE;
• A researcher, such as a research assistant, attached to an Australian University, Institute of Technology or TAFE;
• A Masters or PhD student at an Australian University, Institute of Technology or TAFE. Note: Both the student and their supervisor must apply and pay for access to the dataset independently. Both the student and their supervisor must be located at the same institution;
• An employee of an Australian Commonwealth agency; (including FaHCSIA)
• An employee of a State/Territory agency;
• A researchers within statutory bodies whose primary business is research; or
• Individuals within other statutory bodies. Please note that this category of applications will be granted access on a case-by-case basis;

You will need to complete the following documents:

• Order form
• Individual Deed of Licence

Other Australian users whose applications will be considered on a case by case basis include:

• Users attached to other organisations (such as private research organisations, lobby groups).  Please note: the data will only be released to private (non-academic) institutions if their prime business is research and the data is used for research purposes only;
• Private consultants. Please note: the data will only be released to private consultants if their prime business is research and the data is used for research purposes only;

You will need to complete the following documents:

• Order form
• Individual Deed of Licence

Overseas Users

If you are:

• An overseas academic at a university;
• An overseas PhD Student at a university. Please note that access will only be granted in exceptional circumstances and both the student and the supervisor must apply for and pay for access to the same dataset independently. The student and their supervisor must be located at the same university;
• An overseas researcher who works at private institutions whose primary business is research and the data is used for research purposes (applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis);

You will need to complete the following documents:

• Order form
• Individual Deed of Licence

How to order the Cross-National Equivalent File (CNEF) data

To order the Cross-National Equivalent File (CNEF), please click here.