The survey instrument was developed by the Child Health Survey Technical Expert Group (CHSTEG), in consultation with area health services, relevant branches of the NSW Department of Health, and the NSW Health Survey Program Steering Committee (HSPSC).The CHSTEG was established in 1999, as an expert group on the technical aspects of measuring and reporting on child health and wellbeing.The CHSTEG consisted of community paediatricians, public health professionals, child and family health nurses, child health policy analysts, child mental health professionals, health promotion professionals, epidemiologists, and representatives of the NSW Department of Community Services and the Association for Welfare of Child Health (see Acknowledgements).The draft survey instrument was refined, following field-testing and piloting.