The WA Government has set aside $8 million for people and technology to support public services across critical portfolios.

The funds have been set aside to pay for technical equipment and services for data security, including filling 10 new roles in the Office of Digital Government, as well as building, operating, governing and usage of a central data asset.

“The Office of Digital Government is building analytics capabilities to address our state’s most pressing complex social, health, environmental and economic issues,” ICT minister Stephen Dawson said in a statement.

“Improved linkage capabilities will enable decisions to be better informed by data and will aid researchers in their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of all Western Australians.”

Funds will also be used for data linkage reforms to assist the state’s health and medical researchers. 

The Office of Digital Government team has been tasked with building a safe, privacy-preserving data environment in conjunction with the WA health department.

These reforms are expected to allow the government to make policy and operational decisions informed by relevant data. 

“The government is committed to ensuring data we have at our disposal is used to deliver the best possible outcomes for services, policy and strategy for Western Australians,” the ICT minister said.