Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring
System
Joyce Cleary & Linda Hayes
Joyce Cleary
Statewide Outcomes for Children
November 2008
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Policy context…
In 2004 the Premier’s Children’s Advisory
Committee recommended that Government
• establish the Office for Children ‘to ensure a
stronger policy focus is given to the
development of all children’
In 2005 GVT reinforced a
commitment that ‘the
wellbeing of children will
improve’
• ‘define outcomes for Victoria’s children and the
best ways to measure these, including overall
performance measures for the outcomes
achieved for Victoria’s children’
Statewide Outcomes for Children was established in March
2005 as part of the new Office for Children in DHS
In 2006 the Government
announced $1.7m to
‘promote strategic
research and the
measurement of children’s
health and wellbeing
across the state.
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Victorian Child and Adolescent Outcomes Framework
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
What is VCAMS?
• The Victorian Child and Adolescent
Monitoring System enables us to report
on how children 0 to 18 are faring in the
domains of health, safety, learning
development and wellbeing against the
Outcomes Framework
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
VCAMS – Key Components
1. System Development
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Ensure there are valid indicators relevant to children’s
safety, health, development, learning and wellbeing
Ensure that each indicator has a solid evidence base
2. Administrative Data
•
Maximise the utility of administrative data
3. Annual Data Collection Program
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Undertake annual data collection process to address
data gaps across government
Annual program will focus on priority population and
priority issues
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
VCAMS – Key Components
1. Data Linkage program
•
Maximise current databases through the use of data
linkage
2. Analysis and Reporting
•
Undertake relevant analyses and develop timely and
useful reporting mechanisms
3. Data Accessibility
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•
Ensure data are available for appropriate policy,
planning and evaluation activities for all levels of
government
Enable data to be available for researchers through
appropriate privacy procedures
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Selecting the VCAMS indicators:
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Worth measuring
Measurable for diverse population
Understood by people who need to act
Relevant to policy and practice
Reflect results of actions
Feasible to collect and report
Comply with national processes of data
definitions
• Directly relate to the Outcomes Framework
for Victorian Children
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Victorian Child & Adolescent Monitoring System
VCAMS
Outcomes Framework
Inputs
Administrative Data
DHS, DEECD, DoJ,
DPCD, VicPolice
New Collections
Eg: VCHWS, Local Level
survey, Aboriginal Child
Survey, Adolescent Survey
Other Collections
Eg: School Entrant Health
Questionnaire, Victorian
Population Health Survey
VCAMS
VCAMS monitors
and reports on the
safety, health,
learning,
development and
wellbeing of
children and young
people in Victoria
Products
Annual Reports
• Regular reporting
Aboriginal
Community Profiles
Topical bulletins,
journal articles, etc
Researchers
• Universities
• Community
experts
NGO/Uni Data
Eg ABS, Survey of Recent
Mothers, Vic Injury Survev
Unit, Community Indicators
Government
• State
• Local
• National
Communities
• Schools
• Child Care
providers
• Health providers
• etc
Community Profiles
• 150 indicators
• Data analysis for
policy & planning
Audiences
Web based data
access
Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Children: Catalogue of evidence based interventions
Others
• NGOs
• Advocacy groups
• Other interest
groups
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Legislated reporting on how children are faring
Child Wellbeing and
Safety Act (2005)
 established the
Children’s Services
Coordination Board to
review annually and report
to the Minister (for
Children) on the outcomes
of Government actions in
relation to children,
particularly the most
vulnerable children in the
community
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Community profiles bring the outcomes
data to a local level
City of Elsewhere
City of Elsewhere
2006
2006
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Accessing data by jurisdiction
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Recap: What does VCAMS offer?
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A suite of 150 indicators with a solid evidence base
A new understanding of outcomes (not outputs)
A whole of government approach
More informed decision making
– Better identification of priorities
– Better targeting of resources
• Know how we are tracking over time
– Monitor trends
– Identify emerging issues
• Know if we’re making a difference – program / policy
evaluation
• Drive the agenda for children and young people across
government
• Respond to and inform COAG
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
Room for further development
• Data sharing agreements
• Data standards
• Remove perception of risk
Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
What has worked well
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Legislation
Governance
Outcomes Framework
Evidence base
Strategic collaborations