Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited

On our second episode of our APS Reform in Action series, we hear from Lisa Bush and Maree Wilson from Geoscience Australia about the power of geospatial data for better decision-making in the public sector.

If you want to make better decisions, you need to have quality, trusted data. Unfortunately, critical data can often sit in siloes or be scattered across spreadsheets. Geoscience Australia’s Digital Atlas of Australia steps up to this challenge, providing a unified and accessible data set that can help you build better policies – or decide where you want to build your new home.

Lisa Bush, head of Geoscience Australia’s National Location Information Branch, and Maree Wilson, chief of Place and Communities Division, join host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, to talk about making geospatial data more accessible through the Digital Atlas. They also shine a light on how it can improve functions such as social services or emergency management, and enhance data capabilities in the public sector.

Key tips:

1. Geospatial data can help you make decisions in minutes – make the best use of it
2. Don’t be afraid to try, you won’t need to be a geospatial data expert to use the Digital Atlas
3. If you’re creating or using national data in your role, reach out to the Digital Atlas team.

This series is delivered in partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission.

The Digital Atlas of Australia was a finalist for the  2024 IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards.

Show notes:

The Digital Atlas of Australia | Geoscience Australia

Note about caretaker

The caretaker period commenced with the dissolution of the House of Representatives on 28 March. It will continue until the election result is clear, or if there is a change of government, until the new government is appointed by the Governor‑General.

During the caretaker period, successive governments have followed a series of practices, known as the caretaker conventions, which allow the business of government and ordinary matters of administration to continue, although the Government avoids:

• making major policy decisions that are likely to commit an incoming government;
• making significant appointments; and
• entering into major contracts or undertakings.