Seq No. Metadata item Obligation Max occurs - Specialist Homelessness Services activity cluster Mandatory 1 - Statistical linkage key 581 cluster DSS specific information:
For the purposes of the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS the SLK of the Presenting Unit Head will be recorded on each their accompanying member’s client forms.
Mandatory 99 - Child—care arrangements, care and protection order code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS this data element is collected for all clients aged 18 years and under.
Conditional 1 - Client—amount of assistance, total hours and minutes NNNN DSS specific information:
This data element provides a building block to enable Specialist Homelessness Agencies to report on the total amount of funded assistance received by clients during a reporting period. It enables more detailed analysis of the quantity of outputs/services received by a client (output-based reporting), and provides more detailed data to support cost modelling and economic evaluations. This is particularly valuable in relation to exploring costs and benefits for early intervention versus crisis intervention. It also allows more detailed analysis of the intensity of service provision required for complex versus non-complex clients.
Information is recorded for this data item for each reporting period, ie each calendar month.
Mandatory 1 - Client—case management goal status, code N Conditional obligation:
Information is recorded for this data item for each reporting period, ie each calendar month.
Mandatory 4 - Client—case management plan indicator, yes/no code N Mandatory 1 - Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N DSS specific information:
The data collected in the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) NMDS will be used for policy development and agency activity reporting in a non-identifiable form. This information will enable better placement of agency services and enhance service provision to clients of homelessness agencies.
Conditional 1 - Client—reason case management plan does not exist, code N Conditional obligation:
Response conditional on if a case management plan doesn't exist.Conditional 1 - Date—accuracy indicator, code AAA Mandatory 1 - Person (address)—Australian postcode, code (Postcode datafile) {NNNN} DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY); and
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live. Mandatory 2 - Person (address)—suburb/town/locality name, text A[A(49)] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY); and
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live. Mandatory 2 - Person (employed)—full-time/part-time status, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Mandatory 4 - Person—Australian state/territory identifier, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY); and
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live. Mandatory 2 - Person—conditions of occupancy, code N DSS specific information:
Please note that codes 1 - Leased tenure - nominated on lease and Code 2 - Lease in place - not nominated on lease - are only selected if a lease is in place. Codes 3 to 6 only apply if the person's name is not on a lease.
Information specific to this data set:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for clients.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY); at the date of presentation; at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Mandatory 2 - Person—country of birth, code (SACC 2011) NNNN Mandatory 1 - Person—financial assistance amount, total Australian currency N[NNNN] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for clients in each reporting period.
Mandatory 1 - Person—financial assistance type, homelessness code N DSS specific information:
This data element relates specifically to assistance provided by the specialist homelessness agency and not assistance provided by any other source.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for the current service episode only.
Mandatory 1 - Person—first service request indicator, yes/no code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected only for persons who have not received any services requested or assessment, that is, it is collected only for persons known as 'turnaways'.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is applied to an individual 24-hour reporting period.
Mandatory 1 - Person—formally diagnosed mental health condition indicator, code N DSS specific information:
Evidence suggests that the longer persons with mental health problems are supported by specialist homelessness services, the more likely they are to move into public, or community housing or rental housing rather than return to rough sleeping. Access to a range of longer-term supports and community-based services will increase the early intervention and recovery support options for people who are homeless with a mental illness and substance abuse disorders.Mandatory 1 - Person—government funding identifier, Centrelink customer reference number N(9)A Conditional obligation:
Please note that in the SHS NMDS this item is dependent on the consent of the client.Conditional 1 - Person—housing tenure type, homelessness code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Mandatory 4 - Person—Indigenous status, code N Mandatory 1 - Person—labour force status, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Note that this data element is designed specifically to reference the ABS Labour force status standard variable. Consequently, the value domain definitions explicitly exclude anyone aged under 15; effectively this reflects the scope of ABS collections. If information on illegal workers aged under 15 is sought for the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, these persons may also be asked the labour force questions. However, they should be filtered using the Age data element from any returns intended to retain compatibility with ABS data.
Conditional 1 - Person—living arrangement, homelessness code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Mandatory 1 - Person—mental health services received timeframe, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is captured from the perspective of the Agency worker. Therefore, it relates to the agency worker's knowledge of whether or when the client has received mental health services.Mandatory 1 - Person—new client indicator, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is used to gain an idea of the 'trend of homelessness'. It does this by collecting data as to whether or not the presenting person has accessed a specialist homelessness agency before.Mandatory 1 - Person—number of people in the presenting unit, total N[N] Mandatory 1 - Person—previously homeless status, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected a minimum of twice (for the client):
within the previous month within the previous year. In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element may be used to capture multiple responses.
Mandatory 1 - Person—reason for seeking assistance, homelessness code N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected twice (for the client):
for all the presenting reasons for seeking assistance; and subsequently
for the main presenting reason for seeking assistance In both cases the reasons are those nominated by the client.
Mandatory 1 - Person—reason services not provided, code N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected only for persons who have not received any services requested or assessment, that is, it is collected only for persons known as 'turnaways'.Mandatory 3 - Person—registered/awaiting government payment indicator, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected only for those clients who have no income when that client has applied for a government benefit, pension or allowance, but is still awaiting their first payment before the support period starts.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 1 - Person—relationship to the presenting unit head, code N[N] DSS specific information:
The presenting unit head is identified via the relationships within the presenting unit. If there is a child(ren) present (under 18 years old), the presenting unit head is the spokesperson which is:
The parent/guardian representing any child(ren) (under 18 years old), or
If there is no parent/guardian, present the most direct relationship representing any child(ren) (under 18 years old). If two siblings presented to an agency the presenting unit head would be the one that was regarded as the spokesperson for the two. If there are no child(ren) present (under 18 years old), the presenting unit head is the spokesperson who is:
The spouse/partner of another person within the presenting unit, or
Is related in some way to another person within the presenting unit. Mandatory 1 - Person—residential type, homelessness code N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 1 - Person—school enrolment and attendance status, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS this data element is collected for all clients aged 18 years and under.
Mandatory 1 - Person—service requested, homelessness code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this Data Element is collected only for persons who have not received the services requested, that is, it is collected only for persons known as 'turnaways'. Mandatory 1 - Person—source of cash income (all), code NNNN DSS specific information:
For the purposes of the SHS collection the following list is used which aggregates to the ABS Sources of Income Classification.
Government pensions and allowances
Newstart Allowance
Parenting Payment
Disability support pension (Centrelink)
Youth allowance
Age pension
Austudy/ABSTUDY
Disability Pension (DVA)
Service pension (DVA)
War Widow(er)'s Pension (Including income support supplement) (DVA)
Sickness allowance
Carer Allowance
Carer Payment
Other government pensions and allowances
Other sources of income
Employee income
Unincorporated business income
Other income nec
Nil income
Not stated/not known/inadequately described
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY); at the date of presentation; at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Mandatory 1 - Person—source of information on a mental health condition, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for all clients.
Mandatory 1 - Person—student type, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 1 - Person—student/employment training indicator, code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY);
at the date of presentation;
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY); and
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY). Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 4 - Person—time elapsed since last permanent residence, code N Mandatory 1 - Person—type of institution recently left, homelessness code N[N] Conditional 1 - Person—urgency of requested assistance, time period code N DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected only for persons who have not received the services requested, that is, it is collected only for persons known as 'turnaways'.Conditional 1 - Person—year of first arrival in Australia, date YYYY DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this Data Element is ascertained for all persons who have indicated that their Country of Birth is not Australia.Conditional 1 - Referral—formal referral source, homelessness code N[N] Mandatory 1 - Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY Conditional 4 - Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY Mandatory 4 - Service episode—service cessation reason, homelessness code N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element may be used to capture multiple responses.Mandatory 1 - Service episode—service ongoing indicator, code N Conditional 1 - Service event—accommodation period end date, DDMMYYYY Mandatory 1 - Service event—accommodation period start date, DDMMYYYY Mandatory 1 - Service event—assistance request date, DDMMYYYY DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this Data Element refers to 'turnaways' and clients, that is, it captures the date on which a person sought assistance from a Specialist Homelessness Agency but did not receive the assistance or service sought.Mandatory 1 - Service event—first service contact date, DDMMYYYY DSS specific information:
This data element refers to a specific provision of a service (a service event) within the service episode.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for all clients.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, the reporting period is defined as being a calendar month. Therefore any date of the calendar month may be reported for this Data Element.
This data element is collected for the first service contact date within the reporting period. If the first service contact was also the start of the service episode, as recorded by the data element Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY, then the same date will be recorded for both data elements. If the service episode is ongoing but the service event is new, then the actual date of the new service event should be recorded.
This data element should ascertain the actual date of service, not the date when the data is recorded.
Mandatory 1 - Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY DSS specific information:
This data element refers to a specific provision of a service (a service event) within the service episode.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for all clients.
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, the reporting period is defined as being a calendar month. Therefore any date of the calendar month may be reported for this Data Element.
This data element is collected for the last service provision date within the reporting period. If the last provision of a service was also the end of the service episode, as recorded by the data element Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY, then the same date will be recorded for both data elements. If the last provision of a service is not the end of the service episode (i.e. where other services continue to be provided) the actual date of the end of the service event should be recorded. However if the service event within the service episode is ongoing to the next reporting period, ie ongoing to the following month, then the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY will be recorded as the last day of the current month.
This data element should ascertain the actual date of service, not the date when the data is recorded.
Mandatory 1 - Service event—supported accommodation type, code N Mandatory 1 - Service provider organisation—organisation identifier, NNNNNA Conditional 1 
