Annual changes process

Each year the Department of Health reviews the data elements and format of its key health services data collections.

This review - the annual change process - seeks to ensure that health data collected in Victoria:

supports the department's state and national reporting obligations
assists planning and policy development
reflects changes in hospital funding and service provision arrangements for the coming financial year
incorporates appropriate feedback from data providers on improvements.

The annual change process is managed by Data Services and is governed by the Department's Annual Changes Governance Committee (ACGC).

The annual change process

This year the only proposed data collection changes that will be considered are those deemed essential to meet our national reporting obligations or key government priorities for 2026-27.

Annual changes are approved by the Deputy Secretary, Hospitals and Health Services based upon recommendations by the ACGC.

The approved changes are documented as specifications for revisions and are distributed (through the HDSS bulletin distribution list) 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.

Notification of any additional changes are published in the HDSS Bulletin.

Timetable for data collection changes 2026-27

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