Preventing violence in New South Wales: data sources and their adequacy.

OBJECTIVES To describe data sources that are relevant to violence in NSW and recommend strategies for improving data collection and dissemination. METHODS Literature review, interviews with stakeholders and a survey of data custodians within NSW Health. RESULTS Data sources were mapped using a conceptual framework developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We found that current data sources are only partially effective at characterising the burden of violence in NSW and there are inadequate mechanisms for data review and dissemination. CONCLUSIONS Improving data collection and dissemination is the first step in the public health contribution towards reducing the burden of violence on society.