In order to provide a framework for standardised data reporting in the Australian nongovernment community mental health sector, a Data Dictionary and standard data set were developed. Advisory Committee and key stakeholder consultation, review of local and national minimum data sets and stakeholder validation informed this process. This resulted in a Data Dictionary containing 37 items and a standard data set containing 15 items. These items conform to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare's (AIHW) standards and address Leginski et al.'s (1989) decision standards.
AIHW – see Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
2.
AndrewsGWiltonNWilkinsG, (1992). Minimal Data Sets: More information from less data. World Health Organization, Geneva.
3.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2000). National Health Data Dictionary. Version 9, AIHW Catalogue no. HWI 24. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra.
4.
BybeeDMowbrayCCarolTCohenE, (1995). ‘Evaluation of a homeless mentally ill outreach program: Differential short-term effects’. Evaluation and Program Planningvol. 18, no.1, 13–24.
5.
Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services (1998). Classifying the care needs and services received by HACC clients. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
6.
Commonwealth of Australia (1996). National standards for mental health services – endorsed by the AHMAC National Mental Health Working Group December 1996. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
7.
Department of Health and Aged Care (1999). Mental health information development: National information priorities and strategies under the second National Mental Health Plan 1998–2003, 1st edition. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
8.
Department of Human Services (1998). Victoria's Mental Health Service: The framework for service delivery – better outcomes through Area Mental Health Services. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
9.
Disability Services Commission (1999). Annual client and service data collection – data guide: Data items and definitions. Disability Services Commission, Perth.
10.
LeginskiWCrozeCDriggersJ, (1989). Data standards for mental health decision support systems. A report of the Task Force to Revise the Data Content and System Guidelines of the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program. US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
11.
McDonaldBKlimidisSMacDonaldBPennebakerD, (2000). Mental health information: People of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (technical report). Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network Advisory Group, Sydney.
12.
Morris-YatesAAndrewsG, (1997). Local-area clinical information systems for mental health services: General principles and guidelines. Developing outcome-oriented information systems for mental health services. Discussion paper no. 1, Department of Aged Care, Canberra.
13.
Morris-YatesAAndrewsGTeesonM, (1994). ‘Information models for clinical information systems’. In: AndrewsGUstunTBDillingHBriscoeM, (eds), Computers in mental health. World Health Organization, Geneva.
14.
StevensARafteryJ, (1992). Health care needs assessment. Epidemiologically based needs assessment reviews. Radcliffe Medical Press, Oxford.
15.
TrauerTDuckmantonRChiuE, (1995). ‘The life skills profile: A study of its psychometric properties’. ANZ J Psychiatry; 29: 492–499.
