National STI surveillance dashboards, embedded for public access

The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney is one of the world's leading research institutes dedicated to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. For years it has produced detailed epidemiological reports on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections (STIs), but these reports were dense and often locked in static formats that limited how the data could be explored.

The Institute needed a way to make national surveillance data more accessible, interactive and engaging, not just for researchers, but also for policymakers, health professionals and the public.

The goal was a platform that lets anyone quickly understand trends in STI notifications, compare across states and territories, and dive into the detail without losing sight of the bigger picture, all while keeping the data accurate and scientifically rigorous.

We designed and developed an interactive Tableau dashboard that brings the surveillance data to life, tracking the rates and notifications of six major infections in Australia: HIV, chlamydia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

The interface lets users filter by location, year and infection type, and view both long-term trends and the most recent numbers, turning complex surveillance data into clear, explorable insight.

We built the underlying data preparation so the dashboards stay accurate and maintainable, and applied clean, intuitive visual design to reduce complexity without diminishing the science.

We embedded the finished dashboard directly in the Kirby Institute's public data portal, making it available to academics, stakeholders and the general public.

The dashboard marks a significant step forward in making national STI surveillance data transparent and interactive. Rather than waiting for static reports, stakeholders can now explore the numbers directly, spot patterns and build an evidence base for action.

By reducing complexity and presenting the data in a clean, intuitive design, the project extended the reach and impact of the Institute's work, a clear demonstration of the value of visual storytelling.

The dashboard is now live on the Kirby Institute's data portal and was also shared on Motta Consulting's Tableau Public profile.

The work set a new standard for surveillance reporting at the organisation and provides a repeatable template for further health surveillance dashboards.