Opportunities to Use Our Open Data Sources

SEACO is committed to enabling responsible access to high-quality longitudinal data that supports scientific discovery while protecting participant privacy and maintaining community trust.

What is available

SEACO is committed to sharing its data as openly and responsibly as possible, in line with FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) and the wider principles of open science. Code books, data dictionaries and research outputs are made available to support the discovery and reuse of SEACO resources. Access to individual-level data is governed to protect participant privacy, uphold community trust and ensure responsible use. As part of SEACO 2.0, we are strengthening our data governance and progressively expanding responsible open sharing through trusted repositories and other appropriate mechanisms.

Accessing data

Researchers interested in using SEACO data are encouraged to contact the SEACO team to discuss their research objectives and data requirements. Following these discussions, researchers may be invited to submit a data access request describing the proposed research, intended use of the data, and any supporting information required to assess the request.

Responsible data sharing

SEACO supports the responsible sharing and reuse of research data in ways that maximise scientific value while protecting participants and respecting the contribution of the Segamat community. Data access requests are assessed to ensure appropriate governance, ethical use, scientific quality, and alignment with SEACO's principles of equitable collaboration, responsible research, and community stewardship. Researchers are also expected to adhere to the SEACO Authorship Policy, which outlines our approach to equitable authorship, responsible publication, and recognition of research contributions.

Data governance

Access to SEACO data is subject to applicable ethics requirements, data protection legislation, and institutional policies. Data are shared in accordance with agreed governance arrangements, and researchers are expected to comply with SEACO's policies on data use, authorship, acknowledgement, and responsible publication.

Fees

Some requests may require additional support for data preparation, extraction, linkage, or statistical input. Where applicable, cost recovery arrangements will be discussed during the planning stage and will depend on the scope and complexity of the request.

Before requesting data

Researchers are encouraged to review SEACO publications and current research activities before requesting data. Early engagement with the SEACO team helps identify existing work, explore opportunities for collaboration, and minimise unnecessary duplication of research.