Whenever any child of more than 20 weeks gestation is stillborn or any child under the age of one year dies from any cause whatsoever, the Executive Director, Public Health must be notified of the event.

The procedures for reporting terminations of pregnancy (induced abortions) are outlined in another section Terminations of Pregnancy.

Midwives responsibilities in relation to the notification of the outcomes of birth events, including stillbirths, are outlined in Midwife Reporting of Birth Events / Cases Attended.

Relevant legislation

The statutory requirement to notify perinatal and infant mortality is specified in Sections 335 5(a) and (c), and 336A of the Health Act 1911 (Part XIII).

Responsibility for notification

The medical practitioner who certified the cause of the child’s death.

Who must be notified

Under the Health Act 1911, the Executive Director, Public Health must be notified.

How to notify

Notification may be made by telephone, fax or mail. A copy of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Stillbirth or Neonatal Death or the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death would provide the required information.

Certificates are available from:

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Western Australia
Department of Justice

Phone: (08) 9264 1555 (Stores Office)

Notification is due:

As soon as possible, preferably within 48 hours.

Notification should be made to:

Executive Director, Public Health 
Regulatory Support Unit 
Public Health Division
Department of Health

PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849

For more information regarding notification of perinatal and infant deaths

Contact (08) 9222 2295.

For data on perinatal or infant deaths contact the Manager, Maternal and Child Unit, Health Data Collections, Data Integrity, Department of Health on (08) 9222 4262.