NADAbase is a comprehensive system for client data collection and reporting, including outcomes data. NADA provides the database free to members for the National Minimum Data Set and NSW Minimum Data Set for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services (N/MDS) and Client Outcomes Measurement System (COMS).
Who collects the data? All NADAbase data is collected by staff from our NGO member services. Our members use NADAbase data for recording client data, quality improvement, evaluation, research and much more.
What is the data used for? In addition to supporting our NGO members with their NADAbase data, NADA also submits NADAbase data to funding bodies on behalf of its members. NADA also uses data from NADAbase to conduct work in line our strategic priorities to benefit our membership as a whole.
The below data visualisations show NADAbase data collected during the 2020-2021 AODTS N/MDS reporting cycle. In some cases, data from the 2018-19 and 2019-20 reporting cycles are included for comparison purposes.
NADAbase underwent a series of improvements from 2017 and 2019 that enhanced data collection, client care planning, and overall reporting for member services using NADAbase. At the end of the project, an evaluation was conducted by researchers from the University of Wollongong to asses the NADAbase improvements and provide direction for future NADAbase work.
NADAbase expansion project report [PDF]
NADA considers effective data management a priority area and has sought to support NADA members to engage with ethical collection and reporting of data from clients and consumers. The NADA data management plan describes NADA’s datagovernance practices. The plan also covers the facilities and equipment NADA uses to ensure adherence to ethical practices and privacy for any data collected, used or stored by NADA.
NADA has implemented a range of policies and processes to provide members and clients with a secure, transparent and positive experience in their use of NADAbase. Learn more.
Learn how to use NADAbase with the online tutorial.
Short factsheets that provide information on frequently asked data questions to assist services with their data collection and quality.
NADAbase FAQs [PDF]
Checking data quality [PDF]
Reporting [PDF]
NADA members and users of NADAbase are required to comply with the National Privacy Act including the 10 National Privacy Principles (1998- revised 2011) National Privacy Act and the NSW Health Records and Information Privacy (HRIP) Act (2002).
Before administering any questions via NADAbase, you must inform clients that steps will be taken to protect the privacy of their personal information. Forms for staff outlining requirements of privacy protection and client consent are provided below.
Privacy and consent for clients [DOCX]
Data reporting agreement [DOCX]
The NADAbase data dictionary provides definitions, descriptions of data elements and guidelines for collection and submission to assist members with building compatible systems and importing functionality for NADAbase.
NADAbase data dictionary [PDF]
This guide leads users through the activities involved in successfully importing data to NADAbase from a bespoke client record management (CRM) system. A companion document to the 2019 NADAbase data dictionary, this guide primarily focusses on organisations who use their CRM system to record client and episode data.
NADAbase Importer Guide [PDF]
Three risk screeners have been incorporated into NADAbase to assist members in providing the best possible client care. The screeners are attached to each client’s episode and are used to inform care planning around suicide risk, domestic and family
violence, and blood borne virus and sexual health risk.
NADAbase COMS assists with measuring of the client outcomes in non-government drug and alcohol organisations in NSW. Determining the treatment outcomes data collection set (2009) [PDF] provides the rationale for the selection of measures included in NADAbase.
The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile is a clinical review tool that can also be used for outcome measurement. A brief, 22-item instrument that assesses various parameters of (a) substance use and (b) general health and wellbeing over the preceding 4 weeks. It is a patient reported outcome measure (PROM) and clinical risk screening tool, eliciting responses directly from clients and is designed to be incorporated into routine clinical care in AOD treatment settings.
ATOP form [Word]
ATOP form [PDF]
More information on www.aodcoqi.org and www.aodatop.org
The Statistical linkage key 581 (SLK-581) is a client identifier that is based on information collected and used for the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS). The SLK-581 can be used to estimate the number of clients who use AOD services and analyse clients’ movement between agencies over time.
SLK-581 Guide for use [PDF]
Important dates to note for data submission to funding bodies.
On behalf of its members, NADA provides data collected through NADAbase in partial fulfilment of the required key performance indicators for DoH, PHN, or NSW Health funding. NADA has prepared factsheets to provide guidance on how to input data in NADAbase to satisfy these requirements.
Data collection factsheet for youth-funded programs [PDF]
The data snapshots provide an overview of data collected by the non government alcohol and drug treatment sector. the snapshots are ideal for use as benchmarking tools for your organisation.
NADAbase snapshot for July 2021 to June 2022 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2020 to June 2021 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2019 to June 2020 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2018 to June 2019 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2017 to June 2018 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2016 to June 2017 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for July 2015 to June 2016 [PDF]
NADAbase snapshot for September 2010 to June 2015 [PDF]
Rose Miller from NADA presented at the APSAD Conference 2020 on ‘Nicotine dependence in clients receiving treatment for alcohol and other drug use.’
Updates to Gender and Sexuality questions
The standard for questions regarding Sex/Gender and Sexuality have been updated in 2020 (link here). NADA continues to be guided by the ABS in regard to best practice for data collection and has made the changes in NADAbase. Learn more.
Security enhancements in NADAbase
NADA considers effective data management a priority and has sought to support NADA members to engage with ethical collection and reporting of data from clients and consumers. In adherence to NADA’s data management plan and privacy policy, NADA will roll out new security features in NADAbase. Learn more.
Data entry during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of services to clients for many not-for-profit organisations. It is important to document these changes in the NSW DATS collection.
Watch the video recording
Download the flowchart [PDF]
NADA proudly acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the custodians of the land on which our office stands. We extend this acknowledgement to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
NADA has award level accreditation under the Australian Services Excellence Standards (ASES) a quality framework certified by Quality Innovation and Performance (QIP).
NADA is a member of