Key messages
- The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) collects and analyses detailed information on obstetric conditions, procedures and outcomes relating to every birth in Victoria.
- Birth reports to the VPDC cover more than 150 data items and contribute to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)'s national data collection.
- The VPDC is reviewed each year to ensure it continues to meet national reporting needs and support research to improve quality of care and outcomes.
The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) is a population-based surveillance system that collects for analysis comprehensive information on the health of mothers and babies, in order to contribute to improvements in their health.
The VPDC contains information on obstetric conditions, procedures and outcomes, neonatal morbidity and congenital anomalies relating to every birth in Victoria. The definition of a birth for this purpose is any birth or stillbirth that is required to be registered under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act .
More than 150 data items are reported to the VPDC. These comply with the National Perinatal Minimum Data Set as defined by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Reporting and analysis
The VPDC contributes to the National Perinatal Data Collection managed by the AIHW. The AIHW produces the annual report Australia’s mothers and babies, using the National Perinatal Data Collection and other data.
Annual review
The VPDC is updated each year to ensure it continues to capture relevant data that complies with AIHW requirements and meets contemporary information needs.
Implementation of changes moved from calendar year to financial year from 1 July 2021.
Proposals for changes to the VPDC from 1 July 2022 were distributed by email and are accessible via this link.
The document ‘Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2022’ sets out changes to be made to the VPDC for births on and from 1 July 2022, including 11 new data items, 10 new business rules, and changes to 20 existing data items and 15 existing business rules.
Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2022
Questions about the annual changes process can be emailed to the HDSS HelpDesk.
Documents for VPDC changes for recent years prior to 1 July 2021 are accessible via the VPDC Archive. Earlier documents can be requested by email to the HDSS HelpDesk.
VPDC manual 2021-22
- Section 1 Introduction, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
- Section 2 Concept and derived item definitions, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
- Section 3 Data definitions, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
- Section 4 Business rules, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
- Section 5 Compilation and submission, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
- Section 5a Webform and HealthCollect, Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) manual v9.0
Reviewed 31 December 2021