How to access the data

To date, Melbourne Institute has distributed copies of the data to 63 researchers or research teams at 19 institutions in Australia, the U.S., the U.K., and Italy covering a range of disciplines.

Please see the following Fact Sheets for information on the Journeys Home data access:

• Fact Sheet 1: Licensing Arrangements, Eligibility and How to Apply (46K)
• Fact Sheet 2: The Roles and Responsibilities of Authorised Users and Supervisors (59K)
• Fact Sheet 3: Providing Research Material to DSS (33K)

General Release

This will include:

• the majority of the survey data (a few variables are confidentialised such as location, industry and debt);
• variables derived from RED equivalent to questions asked in the income section of the survey; and
• variables derived from RED relating to the time spent on income support.

Overseas Release

Overseas applicants will receive reduced data. Legal advice is that the Commonwealth is likely to have a broader range of protective mechanisms available, if classified information is disclosed by an entity within Australia, than it would for an overseas entity. As such this release will only provide:

• the majority of the survey data;
• total income which is the sum of:
  1. earnings from work;
  2. other income sources;
  3. income support; and
  4. family tax benefits.

The overseas release does not include any variables specifically related to receipt of income support payments nor does it include any variables derived from RED.

Limited Release

This will include:

• all general release data; and
• additional unconfidentialised variables including:
  1. location at SA1 level;
  2. the full-set of children information; and
  3. all data items on debt.

Users of the limited release datasets must demonstrate that they can meet the security requirements outlined in the factsheets and justify the research need for data at this detailed level. The limited release does not include any variables specifically related to receipt of income support payments nor does it include any variables dervied from RED.

Limited+RED Release

This contains the full set of Journeys Home data:

• all limited release data;
• variables derived from RED equivalent to questions asked in the income section of the survey;
• variables derived from RED relating to the time spent on income support; and
• variables derived from RED relating to suspensions, marital status and income.

Users of the Limited+RED release datasets must demonstrate that they can meet the security requirements outlined in the factsheets and justify the research need for a) data at this detailed level; and b) access to RED derived data.

Access to Journeys Home Data

If you would like to apply for either the General Release, Limited Release or Overseas Release file please complete a printed copy of the Journeys Home Deed of Licence and Deed of Confidentiality, and forward your scanned signed application form to [email protected]. You DO NOT need to send the originals.