How it Works

There are three pathways to access Service Point. Clients using the NSW Point address validation service can request a separate API to connect to Service Point directly or enable from the NSW Point Address Widget. Users not using online web forms can load data into the Service Point Browser Geocoder.

Address data is returned to the user Organisation during the address validation using NSW Point in the Organisation's web form. Specific data fields from the transaction is then uploaded into the Service Point Register and includes:

• Client geography (ABS Mesh Block¹, SA1, SA2, SA3, SA4; LGA; State and Federal Electoral Boundaries)
• Transaction date
• Organisation ID
• Activity ID
• Site ID
• Unique transaction ID (auto generated)

A User Administrative Portal will facilitate access to self-service the Activity Register and management of organisations' users and access level. Once user credentials are established this will facilitate ongoing access to the Service Point data and reports.

Service Point consists of three components: Service Point Register, Activity Register and Service Point Browser Geocoder.

The Service Point Register is the database where transaction records are retained. A client's transaction data is geocoded and anonymised using the NSW Point services at the time of transaction. The client's transaction is submitted into the register using the Service Point API in the form of aggregated mesh block¹ codes, anonymised organisation, activity and site codes, and a transaction Date. The aggregation of de-identified client data ensures the privacy of the transaction is maintained.

The Activity Register is a web based administration portal that allows users of Service Point maintain their organisation, activity and site information. To capture transactions in the Service Point Register, an organisation and its associated activities and sites (location of service delivery) must be recorded in the Activity Register. An organisation can support multiple activities from numerous site locations. Each Organisation, Activity and Site are automatically assigned their own anonymised ID in the Activity Register. The Register also supports bulk upload of activity and site data as CSV files. A key principle of Service Point design is the mandate to protect the privacy of user data. This is facilitated by the functional separation of the Service Point Register and the Activity Register. When a transaction is sent to the Service Point register, only the aggregated location data along with anonymised codes from the Activity Register are recorded.

The Service Point Browser Geocoder is intended for organisations that do not have web-based forms or applications but still wish to take advantage of Location Based Reporting. It is a web-based application that is capable of geocoding and submitting bulk transactions (1000 records/file) to the Service Point register. It requires a CSV file containing the following information: Organisation, Activity, Site and Address to be geocoded. The transaction records are geocoded using NSW Point and only the de-identified aggregated data is uploaded into the Service Point Register. The complete geocoded file can be downloaded by the user after submitting the transactions.

The data in Service Point is stored in accordance with the security processes and policy available in Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS encrypts all transaction records during transmission and storage, provides API authentication and protects Service Point through the AWS Cloud front and AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF). Viewing of the Service Point Register will be managed using the NSW Data Portal. Identity-based security will allow groups to be created and, once established, self managed access privileges for each Organisation. Data will be retained as the property of the NSW Government.

A Pilot has been trialled with a number of non-government organisations which has contributed to the Beta release of Service Point, available on 15 August 2019.

Access

BETA Service Point will be available early in 2020. Users of NSW Point address validation services can integrate Service Point into online forms and applications.

The Access Request application will verify the Organisation’s authorised representative and acceptance of the Terms of Use.

See website: https://servicepoint.digital.nsw.gov.au/docs/index.html

To establish the Activity Register a unique code is created for the Organisation ID and supplied to the Designated Contact. The Designated Contact will take responsibility to setup and update to the Site and Activity details to fit your transactional requirements and will provide access rights to Service Point for the Organisation.