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When to apply
Apply Criterion 4 throughout Beta to ensure smooth integration with other government services and systems.
Adhere to this criterion across the Service design and delivery process whenever new functionality, integrations or upgrades are introduced.
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Questions for consideration
- How will this service integrate with existing systems and data?
- What standardised protocols will be used to exchange data?
- How will we test for smooth interoperability with other platforms?
- How will the service accommodate future growth and change?
- What information does government already hold that the service could reuse?
- Which mechanisms will allow users to opt in or out of data sharing?
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Making sure the service is useful, easy, inclusive, transparent and stable will build users’ trust and confidence in government.
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Your responsibilities
To successfully meet this criterion, agencies will need to:
- adopt transparent data handling
- implement security measures
- maintain a reliable service
- be accountable for the service.
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When to apply
Apply Criterion 5 throughout Beta to protect users’ digital rights and ensure robust security measures are in place.
As cyber threats become more prevalent and sophisticated, adhere to this criterion across the Service design and delivery process.
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Questions for consideration
- How are users informed about the collection, use and storage of data?
- How will informed consent be obtained from users?
- Which encryption and authentication mechanisms will provide the most robust security?
- How does the service comply with data protection legislation and policies?
- What processes are in place to prevent misinformation?
- How is the service built to be resilient against cyber threats?
- What assurances are in place to promote ethical use of data?
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Guidance and resources
- Australian Privacy Principles
- Privacy Act 1988
- Privacy for Government Agencies - Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2020 - Home Affairs
- Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) - Attorney General's Department
- Information Security Manual (ISM) - Australian Signals Directorate
- National Identity Security Storage - Home Affairs
- Building Trust in the Public Record - National Archives of Australia
- National Data Security Action Plan - Prime Minister & Cabinet
- Notifiable data breaches - Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- Data and Digital Government Strategy | DDGS
- Essential Eight – Australian Cyber Security Centre
- System hardening and administration | Cyber.gov.au
- Better Practice Complaint Handling Guide – Commonwealth Ombudsman
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Drawing on other agencies’ experiences and adopting common platforms, patterns and standards will deliver value for government and familiarity to users.
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Questions for consideration
- What could be aligned with on the Australian Government Architecture?
- What platforms, patterns and standards could the service reuse?
- What are the alternatives to building from scratch?
- Which agencies run similar services that could be built upon?
- How can new or bespoke components be made for future reuse?
- What data do we already collect, and can it be repurposed?
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Your responsibilities
To successfully meet this criterion, agencies will need to:
- ‘build once, use many times’
- design for a common, seamless experience
- reuse data where possible.
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The DAS is not mandating one login for users or a single front door for government digital services, but careful consideration into the creation of new access points and investigation into the benefits of the consolidation of multiple access points.
Australian Government digital services are currently dispersed across multiple agency websites, portals and apps.
This means that people need to understand how government works to find the support and services they need, leaving them to navigate a fragmented and decentralised digital government landscape.
The myGov User Audit called for a consolidation of digital services across government to stop this situation from worsening. A coordinated approach moving government agencies towards a more centralised digital landscape is needed to support people in navigating government services. The DAS is part of a suite of standards and guidance that sits within the Digital Experience Policy (DXP).
The DXP supports a whole-of-government (WofG) focus on improving the experience for people and businesses interacting digitally with government information and services. The DXP includes a suite of standards and guidance that supports agencies to deliver more cohesive and consistent digital experiences, including (but not limited to):
- the Digital Service Standard
- the Digital Inclusion Standard
- the Digital Performance Standard.
- Digital Access Standard
The DAS is an extension of Criterion 4 ‘Connect services’ and Criterion 6 ‘Don’t re-invent the wheel’ of the DSS to support a common experience for users. The DAS sets criteria that agencies must meet to determine where their new digital service fits into the whole-ofgovernment digital service landscape. The criteria will help agencies assess whether a new access point is required or if they can reuse existing platforms and capabilities. This policy will ensure agencies design and deliver digital services in consideration of broader government landscape, including the Data and Digital Government Strategy (DDGS) the Digital Service Standard (DSS) and The Digital and ICT Reuse Policy.
The DAS supports the DDGS and DSS by promoting consistency across digital services and ensuring services:
- are accessible
- are secure
- are transparent, and
- meet the needs of people and business
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The criteria
The Digital Access Standard consists of the following 5 criteria.
Each criterion is accompanied by:
- an explanation of its purpose
- your responsibilities in meeting it
- when it should be applied within the Service design and delivery process
- suggested activities to apply it
- further resources and guidance.
Connect with the digital community
Share, build or learn digital experience and skills with training and events, and collaborate with peers across government.