Alcohol & Other Drug: Data Collaboration

Latitude Network is partnering with the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA), the peak body for Alcohol and Other Drugs services in Victoria, on an innovative data collaboration project for the sector. In the initial phase, 15 leading providers of Alcohol and Other Drug services across Victoria have formed a governance group to share de-identified data, including client demographics, service delivery, needs assessment and outcomes.

​The project aims to enhance the sector's ability to leverage existing data shared with the Department of Health, providing a comprehensive 'whole of sector' view that individual organisations cannot currently access. This collaboration allows for regional comparisons, insights into service demand variations and cohort segmentation to understand nuanced differences.

"Putting the power of data back in the hands of agencies via this data sharing model has great potential to improve service planning and ultimately improve outcomes for our clients." - Scott Drummond, Head of Policy and Practice, VAADA

Through this data collaboration initiative, individual organisations can harness their data more effectively, learn from peers and gain insights into the broader system. All data shared is anonymised to ensure confidentiality while revealing critical patterns and trends.

Scott Drummond, Head of Policy and Practice at VAADA, expresses excitement about this collaborative project, stating, "As the peak body, we are excited to support drug treatment services gain better insights and understandings into their data through a project that is all about collaboration. Putting the power of data back in the hands of agencies via this data sharing model has great potential to improve service planning and ultimately improve outcomes for our clients.”