Suggest a dataset

If you are unable to find the data that you are looking for you can suggest the data be provided using the 'Suggest' feature, which is enabled on most of our portals. 

This features allows registered users on a data portal to place public requests for data the portal lacks, which other users can vote up or down. The administrators will be notified when a new suggestion has been made, where the requests (also known as nominations) are then moderated. The administrators will moderate the requests and they can choose to approve or reject the request.

If you are an administrator, see this article on how to moderate dataset nominations.

Where is this 'Suggest' feature located?

This is located at the bottom of catalog browse pages. Below is an example from the city of Melbourne:

How do I make a suggestion?

Once you click on the button on the catalog page, you will be taken to a page which will display the dataset nominations placed by other users of the site. In the upper righthand corner you will see a "Suggest a Dataset" button

Clicking on that, (if you aren't logged in, you will be prompted to do so at this point), will launch a popup where you can add in your dataset suggestion details.

How will I find out if my request is approved or rejected?

Your request will then join the list of nominations on that page with a status of 'New'. If the nomination has been made and has not been moderated by the admins, the Status will appear as 'Open'. 

When the admin approves or rejects the nomination the Status will be updated on the public view to either 'Approved' or 'Rejected' and you will also receive an email notification of the decision, regardless of the outcome.

Why would a data request be rejected?

Reasons for request rejections vary and you can contact the site administrators if you would like to find more details. Here are two possible causes for rejection:

• The data may already be on the portal so the admins will point you to it
• The data is not open and they are not able to obtain it or authorized to host it on their portal