Implementing Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Australia: A Five-Phase Framework for Indigenous Data Governance

This article presents the development of a five-phase Indigenous Data Governance (IDGov) Framework in Australia, focusing on partnerships between the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) sector and non-Indigenous health entities. While the Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) movement has gained significant momentum over the past decade in Australia and other Anglo-colonised nation-states and beyond, the practical implementation of IDSov through community-led governance remains underdeveloped in the literature. This paper addresses that gap by offering definitional and conceptual clarity, alongside examples that center Indigenous leadership in operationalising data governance. We introduce a phased model of IDGov, mapping a progression from the absence of governance through partial and shared arrangements to Indigenous-majority and fully Indigenous-led governance structures. The model is illustrated through a case study involving a complex data-sharing agreement between one Indigenous and three non-Indigenous organisations within the Victorian health system. Roles and responsibilities across each phase are articulated to support practical implementation. While grounded in the health sector, the framework is adaptable to other domains such as education, justice, and land governance, where IDSov is increasingly critical. This work offers a pathway for operationalising IDSov and transforming data relations to reflect and uphold Indigenous rights, worldviews, and decision-making authority.