This paper calls for collaborative action relevant to policy advisers, parliamentarians, academics, health providers, and early years educators and care providers, to improve administrative service data availability and linkage in relation to maternal and child health. This will support proactive decisions that promote a healthy start to life. 

There have been varying rates of progress in this area across Australian states and territories, with Victoria's statewide data documenting children's health and development from pregnancy to school entry, the maternal and child health (MCH) service dataset, the most comprehensive nationally with the highest population uptake. However, it remains unlinked to key health and determinants data and longitudinal cohorts. 

Untapped child health data are an urgent public health concern with real‐world implications, notably the unmet need for timely monitoring and reporting of health and developmental outcomes of Australian children born during the COVID‐19 pandemic. 

This paper:

• considers why data from the first 2000 days are essential
• provides an overview of gaps that state‐based service data fill amidst existing Commonwealth and state or territory data assets
• reflect on key lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic
• recommend essential steps to drive Victorian service data linkage for informing future policy decisions, service delivery and program evaluation.