Data Development

The NPESU is undertaking data development for the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) and related data elements and is developing a NMDS for Congenital anomalies. A NMDS is a core set of data elements agreed for mandatory collection and reporting at a national level. The standards make data collection activities more efficient by reducing duplication of effort; more effective by ensuring information to be collected is relevant and appropriate to its purpose; and more comparable and consistent for reporting purposes.

In Australia, the development of metadata for health information is undertaken through the National Health Information Agreement governance arrangements. The National Health Information Management Principal Committee (NHIMPC) is a body established under the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) to oversee development of health data standards.

The Health Data Standards Committee (HDSC) is a standing committee of NHIMPC. The HDSC makes recommendations to the Statistical Information Management Committee (SIMC) to endorse new NMDSs or modifications to an existing NMDS. SIMC also oversees METeOR which is Australia’s repository for national data standards for health, housing and community services statistics and information. All data element definitions to be included in METeOR require approval by the HDSC and endorsement by the NHIMPC.

NPESU established a number of committees made up of state and territory data providers and other experts to advise on and assist with its data development activities. The National Perinatal Data Development Committee (NPDDC) assists with data development related to the Perinatal NMDS and other perinatal data standards. The National Congenital Anomalies Steering Committee (NCASC) and the State and Territory Implementation Committee for Congenital Anomalies (STICCA) assist with the development of the proposed Congenital anomalies NMDS. NPDDC also assists with work on congenital anomalies where the scope overlaps with the Perinatal NMDS.