National Congenital Anomalies Steering Committee

The National Congenital Anomalies Steering Committee (NCASC) was convened in November 2005, following the review of the National Congenital Malformations and Birth Defects Data Collection. 

NCASC comprises representatives from the states and territories, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, the National Centre for Classification in Health, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Human Genetics Society of Australasia/Royal Australian College of Physicians joint committee on newborn screening, the Australian Association of Paediatric Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians and the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit.

The AIHW National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU) established the National Congenital Anomalies Steering Committee (NCASC) to:

• Provide advice to NPESU on the strategic direction in the development and use of the Australian Congenital Anomalies System.
• Provide technical advice to the NPESU in the development of a National Minimum Data Set for congenital anomalies. Specifically in the national standardisation of: data definitions; classifications; and scope (including periods of notification, sources of notification, data elements and conditions).
• Advise on the structure and content of reports on congenital anomalies.
• Facilitate partnerships with other organisations holding data on congenital anomalies to verify and supplement the Australian Congenital Anomalies System.
• Undertake a liaison and education role within organisations with which members are affiliated and promote the interests of these organisations and NCASC.
• Work with and provide technical advice to the State and Territory Implementation Committee for Birth Anomalies.
• Work with the National Perinatal Data Development Committee to develop an integrated program of data development for the national congenital anomalies and perinatal data collections.