The State Digital Asset (SDA) Reuse Policy is a significant development in NSW’s digital transformation journey. The policy was approved by Cabinet on 23 October 2023 and will shape how NSW Government agencies use existing digital solutions to enhance service delivery.
We spoke to Daniel Roelink, Director of Digital Strategy and Architecture in the Digital Strategy, Investment and Assurance (DSIA) team, to find out more about the policy and hear about its implications for Government agencies and beyond.
State Digital Assets are digital and ICT solutions that are used by more than one government agency. The SDA Reuse Policy promotes and governs the reuse of SDAs across all NSW Government portfolios and agencies. “Three critical outcomes are guiding the policy: seamless customer experience, enhancing government productivity and promoting industry efficiency,” says Daniel.
A cross-government policy
The process of designing the SDA Reuse Policy involved significant consultation with groups across Government, led by the Enterprise Architecture team. This was enabled by the approval of the cross-government ICT and Digital Leadership Group (IDLG) and Digital Transformation Board (DTB), with support from the Technical Design Advisory Group (TDAG).
This comprehensive consultation has led to a better understanding of barriers to reuse within agencies, and the benefits that reusable solutions can bring. “The policy clearly defines how we’re going to identify, prioritise, agree on and then support reuse of SDAs,” says Daniel. “It’s also about getting better transparency and visibility around how well these assets perform, and how the market is evolving.”
Realising the benefits of reuse
The reuse of State Digital Assets has many benefits for Government, including seamless customer experiences, increasing public sector efficiency, and enabling industry to be more productive.
“There’s a direct link between trust of citizens and the uptake of digital services. When more citizens use digital services, we can access a broader range of the community,” says Daniel.
The approach to the policy is outcome-driven rather than product-focused, meaning that SDAs must be adopted primarily to achieve outcomes that are aligned with NSW’s priorities.
“Our approach differs significantly from traditional reuse approaches. We don’t just focus on encouraging reuse; we scrutinise the product and platform itself to ensure it delivers an outstanding service. This is a pivotal differentiator in what we’re accomplishing within the NSW Government” – Daniel Roelink, Director of Digital Strategy and Architecture.
Daniel also shared that to be successful, there needs to be enhancements and changes to the digital assets as required, rather than a traditional ‘set and forget’ model. “We review the services every 12 months or on a cadence that we agree to. We need to consider that the market is maturing, and innovation is constantly coming through,” he says.
The success of Licence NSW
The Licence NSW platform is a digital reuse success story. The platform enables digitisation of licence applications and renewals and has resulted in significant time savings for citizens and the public sector. The Government Technology Platforms team in Digital.NSW built the platform in consultation with agencies to ensure its scalability and user-friendliness. The result is a modern, end-to-end digital licensing system that saves time for millions of citizens in NSW.
The future of State Digital Asset reuse
The SDA Reuse Policy lays the foundations for maximising reuse within NSW Government. The Enterprise Architecture team is continuing their work by building on the policy through the delivery of ‘operational guidelines’ to detail the exact procedures for how SDAs will be prioritised, assessed, and governed.
The team will also look to support agencies in discovering suitable solutions for their needs through the development of a digital catalogue of SDAs.
What the policy means for government agencies
Agencies that need a digital solution will be required to check for endorsed State Digital Assets before procuring or building something new. The policy describes when agencies should or must use an SDA and how to request an exemption if required.
Essentially, the State Digital Asset Reuse Policy is about creating a digital ecosystem where Government, suppliers and agencies collaborate to deliver enhanced services and drive productivity. Harnessing the full potential of State Digital Assets will result in a better digital future for NSW.
Visit the State Digital Asset portal on the Digital NSW website to learn more or contact ea@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.