The Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology (VIFP) was created by the Coroners Act 1985 (as amended).
A brief history of the major events to date is included below.

On January 1, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology was formally affiliated with the University of Melbourne in order to:

• promote teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students,
• promote and encourage appropriate research among such students and the provision of facilities,
• promoting a co-operative effort between staff of the Institute and University towards teaching and research areas of common interest
• promote and encourage appropriate research between members of staff of the Institute and members of staff of the University

On July 26 saw the opening of Coronial Services Centre in Kavanagh Street by the Hon. John Cain MP.  With the centre being occupied by VIFM and coronial staff in September.

• Molecular Haematology laboratory established.
• The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria, the only one of its kind in Australia was established
• 24 hour forensic odontology service established under the supervision of the Institute's Consultant in Forensic Odontology, A/Prof John Clement

On June 1st the Institute assumed responsibility for coronial toxicology in Victoria, toxicology laboratories established with 11 scientists and 2 technical staff. The library was also established

The Coronial Services Centre is recognised in a Royal Commission report.

 "The Victorian Coronial System is widely regarded as the most innovative and efficient with in Australia.  It was specifically recommended in the (Royal Commission's) Interim Report that it be examined as providing a model which can be adapted where geographic considerations so required.  The Victorian System was established in 1985 persuant to the Coroner's Act 1985.  It was a radical departure from the previous fragmented system.  The Act establishes a co-ordinated Coronial Service and an integrated Coronial Services Centre which houses the State Coroner's Office and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology.  There is a close relationship between the two bodies."

On June 19th the Buckland Wing, a new extension to house the activities of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria is opened.  The trustees of the William Buckland Foundation committed $350,000 towards the construction of the extension.

The “Elements of Forensic Medicine” course established.

On October 20-21: In conjunction with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the World Association of Societies of Pathology (WASP), the Institute hosted an International Forensic Pathology Symposium.  The centerpiece of the symposium was the First VIFP Oration delivered by His Honour the Administrator of the Northern Territory, The Honourable James H Muirhead Q.C.  The title of his oration was “The Australian Aboriginal and the Law - A Judicial Perspective”.  The oration was attended by over 400 people.            

Accreditation by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) as a Category 1 Pathology laboratory, the first time a forensic pathology mortuary in Australia is recognised as part of a Class 1 laboratory.

In October a 24 hour forensic anthropology service established under the supervision of the Institute's Consultant in Physical Anthropology, Dr Chris Briggs      

Consultative Committee on Road Traffic Fatalities was established.  A project established by the Victorian Road Trauma Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Victorian Institute of Forensic and funded by TAC to evaluate the emergency and clinical management of Victorian road traffic fatalities.

April 26: A new death scene investigation protocol is developed which sees a scientific officer attending all sudden infant death (SIDS) scenes within a three hour radius of Melbourne.

Oct 1: Amendments to the Coroners Act 1985 sees a change of name to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, along with responsibility for the provision of Clinical Forensic Medicine services to Victoria police and the Department of Human Services.

Launch of skin banking, funded by Esso Australia, at the DTBV

Monash University National Centre for Coronial Information (MUNCCI) was formed to develop and manage the National Coroners Information System, the world's first national database of coronial information, on behalf of the Australian Coroner's Society. 

The satellite bone banking program commenced at the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria

Commencement of the new Graduate Diploma in Forensic Medicine program, the first program of its kind in Australasia and the second in the world, fully subscribed in its first year attracting students from five states and Indonesia.

The VIFM Quality Strategy was developed, incorporating the Australian Quality Council Business Excellence Framework into the quality management system.   

In September the building extension to accommodate Clinical Forensic Medicine and support services was commenced.

The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria obtained a licence from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the first tissue bank in Australia with a licence covering more than one tissue type (heart valves, skeletal and related tissue, skin and corneas).

In September the Institute hosted the 7th triennial INPALMS Congress.
Further development of Graduate Diploma of Forensic Medicine.
Contribution to public health on Drugs and Driving issues. Australian Coroners and Attorneys-General work to ensure future of NCIS.  

Recognition of the efforts of VIFM staff after Bali bombings. DTBV responded to unprecedented demand for output of tissue for transplantation.
Chief Commissioner of Police, Christine Nixon, joined Council.
Professor Stephen Cordner appointed to International Committee Red Cross to develop protocols for dealing with victims of war crimes.
Associate Professor David Wells heads a major WHO project to develop forensic medical guidelines for third world countries.
Clinical Liaison Service established.

VIFM staff participated in the international response to the Boxing Day tsunami disaster.
Computerised Tomography (CT) Scanner installed at VIFM.
Work Related Death Investigation and Resource Unit established.
A new genetic test for Long QT syndrome developed.
VIFM worked with Victoria Police and VicRoads in the roadside drug testing pilot.
VIFM increased capacity to respond to any major incidents during the Commonwealth Games.
Maintained ISO9000 certification for the Corporate Services Division.
Provided a sexual assault education program for the Australian Football League.
Established an infant deaths database.
Maintained TGA licensing for the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria.
Developed a Decomposition Research Facility in conjunction with Deakin University.
Five-year agreement was settled with the Victoria Police for the provision of Clinical Forensic Medicine Services.                

2006-2009 Strategic and Action Plan developed for VIFM

Restructure of VIFM organisationally into four services
 - Medical;
 - Forensic and Scientific
 - Corporate Services and Development;
 - Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria. 
Two additional portfolios in Research and in Communication and Stakeholder Relationships.

Introduction of random roadside drug testing.
Contribution to the national effort in the Solomon Islands.

Improvement of the capabilities of the computerized dental identification system D.A.V.ID (Disaster And Victim Identification) for use nationally and internationally.

Coroners and Human Tissue Acts (Amendment) 2006 was passed providing a firm statutory base for DTBV operations.

Recommendations from the report of the Parliamentary Law Reform Committee on the Coroners Act was tabled in Parliament in September 2006. The VIFM led an internal workshop in October 2006 to discuss the recommendations contained in the report - providing a significant opportunity to contribute to the future of death investigation in Victoria.

Funded externally by AusAID, Australian Federal Police, Monash University and others, VIFM staff have been involved in Operation RAMSI in the Solomon Islands, the aftermath of violence in Tonga and East Timor, the aftermath of disasters in Indonesia and in the provision of Disaster Victim Identification training in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.