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 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 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 2023 were invited from stakeholders in July 2022. Those submitted were reviewed by the CCOPMM which determined the proposals to be distributed for feedback from health services and software vendors in particular, and from stakeholders within 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 2023.
Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2023
The document ‘Specifications for revisions to the VPDC for 1 July 2023’ sets out changes to be made to the VPDC for births on and from 1 July 2023, including 3 new data items, 7 new business rules, and changes to 22 existing data items and 20 existing business rules.
For more information about the annual changes process, email HDSS HelpDesk.
Current manual
VPDC manual 2022-23 (all sections)
Older manual
VPDC Archive
To view previous VPDC manuals and documents, visit VPDC Archive.
Reviewed 28 December 2022