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.
- Births reported to the VPDC cover more than 160 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, to contribute to improvements in their health. The data collection fulfills part of the legislative requirements for the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM).
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 160 data items are reported to the VPDC. These aim to 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 for 1 July 2024 were invited from stakeholders in July 2023. Those submitted were reviewed by the CCOPMM which determined the proposals to be distributed for feedback from health services, software vendors, Safer Care Victoria and the Department.
Feedback received was reviewed by the CCOPMM who gave final endorsement of revisions to the VPDC from 1 July 2024.
New guidelines for reporting homebirths to the VPDC (public and private)
These guidelines have been developed to support consistent VPDC reporting of births occurring in the home.
Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2024
The document ‘Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2024’ sets out changes to be made to the VPDC for births on and from 1 July 2024, including 9 new and 3 deleted data elements, and 2 new and 1 deleted business rules. Plus associated amendments to multiple existing data items and existing business rules. Additionally, this year, there are some changes included in the document that are effective immediately. These form part of the VPDC continuous improvement processes.
For more information about the annual changes process, email HDSS HelpDesk.
Current manual
VPDC manual 2024-25 (all sections)
Older manual
VPDC manual 2023-24 (all sections)
VPDC Archive
To view previous VPDC manuals and documents, visit VPDC Archive.
Reviewed 10 July 2024