Unlocking health data
Synthetic Data Community of Practice (SynD)
SynD is a national network of health services, government and universities. We work out how to use synthetic data (artificial records that behave like real patient data but describe no real person) safely in health research, education and innovation.
About SynD
To unlock the value of health information through the use of synthetic data to advance research, education and innovation within the health and care sector.
Hosted by La Trobe University. Bringing health services, government and universities together.
Founding member organisations
New to synthetic data?
Discover the challenges, advantages and opportunities of synthetic data in this bitesize video presentation by SynD co-chair, Dr Ben Hachey: Better, faster, and cheaper health data research (opens in a new tab).
Practical tools for synthetic data
Together with stakeholders from every Australian state and territory health service, we have developed a Synthetic Health Data Governance Framework (SHDGF) and Data Sharing Agreement Template (DSAT) as practical tools to support safe and lawful synthetic data use.
Our work
- Developing standards and guidelines that provide a framework for safe and effective Australian synthetic health data. Watch our 15-minute presentation from the 6th Australia and NZ HREC Conference (25 to 27 November 2025), New horizons: A draft governance framework for synthetic health data in Australia: view the recording (opens in a new tab).
- Implementing a rigorous, open-source evaluation suite for quantifying privacy, fidelity and utility of synthetic data.
- Fostering innovation for improved health outcomes through knowledge sharing, advocacy, education, and training.
Projects in delivery
Join us
We encourage you to collaborate with us and be part of an initiative that will lay the groundwork for safe and effective use of synthetic data to improve health outcomes for all Australians.
Member
You represent your organisation in SynD and help shape its work.
Collaborator
You want to work with SynD on a specific project, event or piece of research.
Both forms open in SurveyMonkey. For questions about membership or the nomination process, contact us by email below.
Can't use the forms, or have another question? Email hello@synd.org.au and tell us whether you would like to join as a member or a collaborator.
Publications and perspectives
- Research Australia, InspireAustralia risks falling behind in the synthetic health data race (opens in a new tab)
- Health Services DailyBringing patients along for the health data ride (opens in a new tab)
- Pulse+ITBlog: Fake patients, aged care action and plan fatigue (opens in a new tab)
More publications and articles (6)
- Health Services DailySynthetic data: filling a gap (opens in a new tab)
- Pulse+ITHIC 2024: Fake patients and real outcomes with synthetic health data (opens in a new tab)
- IJPDSSynthetic data, common data models and federation: holy trinity or unholy mess? (opens in a new tab)
- IJPDSDesigning a utility evaluation framework for synthetic health data (opens in a new tab)
- IJPDSSynD: Australian synthetic health data community of practice (opens in a new tab)
- Digital Health CRCNavigating synthetic data: developing a utility evaluation framework (opens in a new tab)
Governance and membership
SynD was established by the Digital Health CRC and is now hosted by La Trobe University. It fosters a collaborative approach to share knowledge across partners from services, government and universities actively working on synthetic data.
Terms of reference (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Chair
Our purpose and areas of focus
Develop a synthetic data coordinated program of work and national collaborative approach to facilitate evidence and knowledge exchange for:
- Advocacy, education and training
- Governance process and standards
- Technical solutions
- Knowledge sharing
- Developing use cases
Explore the community
Select an organisation to see its people in the members table.
Community members
The community is comprised of a diverse group of committed individuals with a shared vision for the potential of synthetic data, coupled with valuable real-world knowledge and experience from within the health system.
| Name | Role | Organisation | SynD community role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amir Marashi | Senior Health Data Scientist | Digital Health CRC | Standing attendee |
| Clare Morgan | Research Director | Digital Health CRC | Standing attendee |
| Haydn Valle | Manager System Performance | NT Health | Representative |
| James Boyd | Chair of Digital Health and Innovation | La Trobe University | Representative |
| Meagan Snewin | Program Manager | Digital Health CRC | Standing attendee |
| Melanie Haines | Education and Workforce Director | Digital Health CRC | Representative |
| Sebastiano Barbieri | Associate Professor | The University of Queensland | Representative |
| Sylvia Young | Lead Data Scientist | WA Department of Health | Standing attendee |
A representative speaks for their organisation. A standing attendee takes part in meetings regularly without a formal representative role.