This data set development project was undertaken for the Defence Health Service Branch of the Department of Defence.  Its aim was to assist Defence in developing a new approach to reviewing the health effects of overseas deployment on members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The project involved identifying the essential set of information items required to monitor the health effects of overseas deployment. Activities included:

• Consulting with key stakeholders about information requirements;
• Reviewing the published literature on health surveillance systems for overseas deployments;
• Examining existing data collections and systems;
• Developing a health review model to underpin the data set;
• Specifying data set components, items and relationships;
• Considering development and implementation issues; and
• Formulating recommendations.

The Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH) implemented the project’s findings and recommendations.