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. Only essential changes were made from 1 July 2021 in recognition of the demands on health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proposals for changes to the VPDC from 1 July 2022 have been distributed by email and are accessible via this link. Feedback on these Proposals is invited from all stakeholders using the Feedback template, and should be submitted by email to the HDSS HelpDesk by Friday 15 October 2021. Questions about the annual changes process can be emailed to the HDSS HelpDesk.
Documents for VPDC changes for 2020 and prior years are accessible via the link to the VPDC Archive, below.
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
2021 VPDC Annual changes documents
Reviewed 03 September 2021