NCIS data helping in the fight against DIY deaths

andreah — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:22:06 +0000

The National Coronial Information System (NCIS) is managed by the VIFM and provides mortality statistics for research reports into public health and safety. The NCIS recently provided data to inform the making of, ‘Don’t be a jackass – an anti-manual for using a car jack,’ a three minute film about the dangers involved in DIY car maintenance, specifically the safe use of car jacks. This film is part of the national DIY campaign from Product Safety Australia, and is one of the many ways in which NCIS data utilised to minimise injury, illness and death in our community.

News Archive

andreah — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:01:02 +0000

July 2010

VIFM Director Appointed Patron of African Forensic Forum

The Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Professor Stephen Cordner, is the inaugural patron of the African Network on Forensic Medicine.

The Forum was held recently in Gaborone, Botswana. Its aim is to enable the development of networks and partnerships which will ultimately provide mutual support to benefit domestic forensic pathology.

Funded and convened by the Australian Federal Police with assistance from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine the three day meeting brought together 20 forensic medical pathology and clinical practitioners from 11 countries throughout southern and eastern Africa.

Countries represented included Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Dr F Woldetsadik Head, Public Health Unit, WHO, Uganda spoke about the role of the World Health Organisation in Uganda. Dr Steve Naidoo was elected as the interim chairperson of the new group. The next meeting is planned for September 2011 at a location to be decided.

Professor Cordner was thrilled with the response to the first forum. “The three day meeting provided a stimulating forum for forensic medical practitioners to meet and discuss similar and different needs pertaining to their disciplines,” he said. “I hope that the formation of the African Network of Forensic Medicine will be the first step in augmenting professional and personal networks and subsequently the practice of forensic medicine.”

In addition to the success of the three day forum, interviews for eligible candidates for the Masters in Forensic Medicine were conducted. Successful applicants will shortly be offered a position in this new joint AFP-VIFM and then on-site at the VIFM.