The ISLHD Performance Unit provides access to health data and statistical support to inform service planning, evaluation, quality improvement, and research activities across the district.
Engaging early with the Performance Unit helps ensure that projects are feasible, methodologically sound, and aligned with available data sources and governance requirements.
Accessing Data and Statistics Support
ISLHD staff can request access to data and statistical expertise through the Performance Unit. Support may include:
- Identification of available datasets and data sources
- Advice on data definitions, quality, and limitations
- Data extraction and reporting
- Statistical analysis and interpretation
- Support for evaluation and research design.
To request support, please contact the Performance Unit via the intranet.
Engaging the Performance Unit in Research
If you are planning a research project, early consultation with the Performance Unit is strongly recommended at the protocol development stage.
This ensures you:
- Understand what data is available within ISLHD and NSW Health systems
- Confirm what data can be accessed and used for research purposes
- Align your study design with data availability and quality
- Identify any data governance, ethics, or privacy considerations early.
Early engagement can help avoid delays later in the ethics and governance process and strengthen the overall quality of your project.
Grant Applications
If you are intending to access data and/or statistics support from the Performance Unit, you should consult with the Performance Unit before submitting any grant application.
This allows the Performance Unit to:
- Assess feasibility of the proposed data and analyses
- Contribute to study design and methodology
- Partner on the research where appropriate
- Ensure that required data and statistical support are accurately scoped and costed.
Including the Performance Unit early helps ensure that projects are appropriately resourced and increases the likelihood of successful delivery.
Data Governance and Use
All data access and use within ISLHD must comply with:
- NSW Health data governance frameworks
- Privacy and confidentiality requirements
- Ethics and research governance approvals (where applicable)
The Performance Unit can provide guidance on these requirements as part of your request.
Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap)
REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application used to:
- Build and manage online surveys and databases
- Collect and store research and evaluation data
- Support clinical trials, audits, and quality improvement projects.
It is widely used across NSW Health for secure and compliant data collection.
Requesting REDCap Access
ISLHD staff can request access to REDCap via the ISLHD Research Office. To get started:
- Ensure your project has appropriate approvals (e.g. ethics/governance where required)
- Submit a REDCap access request via:
- Work with your project team, and the ISLHD Research Office, to design your database or survey.
The Research Office may also provide advice on:
- Whether REDCap is suitable for your project
- Database design and structure
- Data management best practices