How long does it take to get data access?

There are several factors that can affect how long it takes for researchers to get access to Patron data. Much will depend on the timing of your application and on whether amendments to your application are required by the Data Governance Committee.  You should allow 2-4 months depending on the complexity of your requirements - longer if you need to apply for ethics approval AFTER receiving Patron Data Governance Committee approval.

  1. The timing of your application: The Patron Data Governance Committee meets quarterly. Aim to apply early so that our technical team can undertake feasibility analysis and provide a quote.
  2. The length of time lapsed before you liaise with the Patron data technical team after you gain approval to access Patron data.
  3. We work on a data minimisation principle. Patron data applicants are provided with only the data fields required to undertake their investigation. Allow for the time it takes for liaison between the Department of General Practice and Primary Care technical Patron team and your team for the development of the Client Data Requirement Specification (see the application to acceptance workflow diagram).
  4. How quickly applicants' respond to Patron technical team requests for information and decisions about data fields.
  5. Allow time for the Patron technical team to write the code to extract your agreed data fields and deploy the data to you.
  6. A legal agreement needs to be executed before deployment of data to organisations outside of the University of Melbourne. There can be delay if external organisations seek amendments to the standard legal agreement used. A copy of the standard agreement is shared with data applicants early in their application journey. It is up to the applicant to initiate review of the legal agreement by their legal advisers. (University of Melbourne data recipients must sign an MOU).
  7. Sometimes Data Governance Committee approval is gained prior to Ethics Committee approval. Data will not be provided until approval to specially use Patron data is obtained from a NHMRC registered Ethics Committee.