The requirements for each criterion are listed below, along with a brief description and best practice guidance to meet the requirements.
Survey the policy and service landscape
See the bigger picture: Assess how the problems you identified play out in the broader policy and government service ecosystems. Use resources (such as the Australian Government Architecture and Delivering Great Policy Toolkit) to understand the landscape and the intentions of different policies.
Align to government priorities: Have a clear understanding of how your service will contribute to government priorities including the achievement of the Data and Digital Government Strategy 2030 vision.
OffDigital Investment Plan (DIP) Guidebook
Digital Investment Plan (DIP) overview
Overview
The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has developed this guidance to support government agencies to design and implement Digital Investment Plans (DIP).
Greater focus on short, medium, and long-term planning intends to instil a culture of future - focused strategic digital investment planning, leading to better digital investment outcomes.
Purpose of plan
The DIP is a resource to outline and define the short, medium, and long-term digital goals, initiatives, and outcomes of an agency's digital horizon. It also aligns digital investments with the strategic priorities, business needs and user expectations of the agency.
Authority
As part of the Data and Digital Government Strategy (the Strategy), Cabinet agreed that agencies need to implement short, medium, and long-term digital plans from 1 July 2025.
Applicability
This guidebook is applicable to all government agencies that are required to submit a DIP as part of the Budget process. The DIP should align with the agency's strategic plan, business case, and ICT strategy, and demonstrate how the agency contributes to the achievement of the Strategy.
Proposals assessed by the DTA as a part of the Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF) will have to be aligned with the DIP of the relevant agency.
Section 1: Agency Overview
Agency Mission
This section should provide a brief introduction of the role and functions of your agency and explain how digital technology underpins service delivery and outcomes.
Use clear and concise language and avoid jargon and acronyms. Provide examples and evidence to illustrate your points.
List of key digital services and outcomes
Define your key digital services including services you deliver to other agencies.
How do you deliver your digital services?
What are your core system capabilities based on your missions?
Who are your key stakeholders or customers?
How do your digital services and outcomes contribute to the Data and Digital Government Strategy?
The Digital Service Standard is made up of 10 criteria to help agencies design and deliver services that are user-friendly, inclusive, adaptable and measurable. To successfully apply the standard, agencies must meet all the criteria.
Existing Systems
A digital or ICT system is a related set of functional capabilities, including hardware and software, that perform a task or solve a business need.
A system may contain one or more platforms, portals, application, websites and data stores.
This section provides a list of important existing systems that your agency utilises or provides. This includes the purpose of the system, it’s criticality to core business functions, dependencies, expected end-of-life and planned upgrades or replacements.
Existing systems that are likely to require significant investment or replacement within the next 10 years with costs in the vicinity of $10 million or more should in included. Systems that are supporting critical services or operations but are under the $10 million threshold can still be included at the discretion of the individual agency.
System Type
May include platforms, portals, applications, websites and data stores. Define what technology underpins the system.
System Purpose
Is the digital or ICT system being used for internal operations or policy driven outcomes?
Criticality
What is the level of criticality to core business functions?
Planned Upgrades and Replacements
End-of-Life (EoL) considerations.