The AIHW developed a national data standards strategy and implementation plan for the education and training sectors. The strategy covers the early childhood education, school education, VET and higher education sectors.

This work was undertaken under the Transforming Education and Training Information in Australia (TETIA) 2013–14 Forward Work Program, overseen by the DSG1 and previously by the Strategic Cross-sectoral Data Committee (SCDC) (to September 2014). The purpose of the project was to:

1. increase cooperation and engagement with stakeholders across sectors, by developing a comprehensive and agreed strategy for improvements to data quality and coherence of information across sectors
2. enhance nationally comparable data and data that facilitate state and territory comparison with national data, including those over time
3. increase the flexibility of data to be drawn together to address national needs, and answer research and policy questions in a timely manner.

The project was divided into 3 phases:
• Phase 1: Establishment of scope (October to December 2013)
• Phase 2: Review of data collections (January to March 2014)
• Phase 3: Development of national data standards strategy and final project report (March to October 2014).
These phases and their components are depicted in Figure 1.1.

This project report summarises the activities and process undertaken in each phase of the project (chapters 2–4) to develop the national data standards strategy and implementation plan for the education and training sectors, and the finalisation of the project.