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 reviewed each year to ensure it continues to capture relevant data that complies with AIHW requirements and meets contemporary information needs.
Annual changes are approved by the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM).
The approved changes are documented as specifications for revisions and are distributed no later than 31 December each year for implementation by 1 July of the following year. The specification documents are published by mid-January each year.
Implementation of changes moved from calendar year to financial year from 1 July 2021.
No changes were made to the VPDC from 1 July 2025.
This year the only proposed changes that will be considered are those deemed essential to meet national reporting obligations or key government priorities for 2026-27.
Proposals for changes to the VPDC for 1 July 2026 were invited from stakeholders in August 2025. Those submitted were reviewed by the CCOPMM which determined the proposals to be distributed for feedback from health services, software vendors and from stakeholders within Safer Care Victoria and the department.
Your feedback on proposal/s is invited and should be submitted on the below template and emailed to hdss.helpdesk@health.vic.gov.au no later than 5pm Monday 6 October 2025.
For more information about the annual changes process, email HDSS HelpDesk.
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.
VPDC manual for 2025-26
VPDC manual 2025-26 (all sections)
VPDC manual for 2024-25
VPDC manual 2024-25 (all sections)
VPDC Archive
To view previous VPDC manuals and documents, visit VPDC Archive.
Reviewed 25 September 2025