The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) is Australia’s largest multi-disciplinary centre for forensic medical and scientific services. Our specialist medico-legal investigators support the maintenance of a safe and just Victoria by working in partnership with a range of justice agencies to provide critical forensic evidence to our courts and tribunals.
In collaboration with totheletter DNA and the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, the VIFM is undertaking a pilot project to evaluate a genetic genealogy approach to identifying a small number of coronial cases where conventional DNA analysis has not provided results. A detailed DNA profile from the unidentified body will be uploaded into a genealogy website, such as GEDmatch, and any kinship matches to DNA profiles provided by other GEDmatch participants are analysed by a genealogist to attempt to identify a common ancestor and relationships to immediate family members. This technology has been used successfully in the USA to identify alleged offenders, missing persons and the biological parents of adoptees.
The VIFM is directing a research project at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) in Western Sydney. The project will identify techniques or methods that can assist in the location of mass graves in different environments. The detection of clandestine graves in heavily vegetated areas, where conventional satellite imagery is of no use, is challenging. For the first time in the Southern hemisphere real bodies from body donation programs have been used to create a series of mock mass graves. Baseline environmental data has been collected to monitor and study the effects of decomposition with a limited range of detection techniques over a three year period. Initial results are promising.
The VIFM is researching the development of techniques to predict what the face would look like for an unidentified skull using CT scans with machine learning software. This software could potentially be combined with the use of the VIFM’s new Massive Parallel Sequencer (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone) to provide more realistic reconstruction of faces of unidentified remains.
Working towards improving the investigation of unidentified human remains in an Australian context: The VIFM is assessing the accuracy of bomb pulse dating for estimating year of birth and death in decomposed or skeletonised remains. The atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the 1950s and early 1960s produced large amounts of radiocarbon. Different biological tissues (bone, tooth, hair and nail) will be tested at the Australian National University by comparing environmental levels of Carbon-14 (14C) to 14C levels within these tissues to estimate the year of tissue formation.
The VIFM is working with Defence and Science Technology (DST) in the Commonwealth Department of Defence to determine the ability of automated facial recognition system to identify and verify deceased individuals. DST has expertise in developing and testing facial recognition software. This will be the first project to assess its ability to match the image of a deceased person with an ante-mortem photo of that individual. If successful, this type of software may be used in DVI responses involving large numbers of deceased.
As it is not possible for VIFM to offer work experience to students due to the sensitive nature of our work, secondary school students in years 10, 11 and 12 have the opportunity to attend a Career Information afternoon. These sessions are designed to offer an insight into the various career options available and are held twice a year during the April and September school holidays.
Specialist staff from VIFM, Victoria Police and the Coroners Court will talk to students about what it’s like to work in their chosen fields and what path they took to get where they are today. Students wishing to attend MUST complete the registration as numbers are limited. Please check back here closer to April or September for the sign-up link. If your query is not answered in this section, please contact the HR & OD team via email at jobs@vifm.org
If you are unable to attend a session, or would like more information about what we do, please view our web series which is due out in 2019.
The Health Law and Ageing Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim with assistance from Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja.
The unit is focused on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Research in this area uses existing information from medico-legal death investigations of older people, and applies the results to identify opportunities for improvement, and to inform changes and optimal practice through the development of new resources, policies, procedures and protocols for aged care and health professionals.
Specific research projects of this unit include:
In December of 2017, the National Assembly of The Gambia passed a bill establishing a Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) which aims to “investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights in the period from July 1994 to January 2017”. Part of the work of the TRRC is to “establish and make known the fate or whereabouts of disappeared victims” (TRRC Act 2017, page 9). Location and identification of the missing is therefore essential.
Associate Professor Soren Blau spent 8 days in Gambia working with TRRC investigators and commissioners providing forensic advice for specific cases. While exhumation has been a common activity of many truth commissions, the implementation of exhumation is the first endeavour of this kind for the TRRC in The Gambia.
The VIFM receives regular visits by international forensic medical delegations and also hosts training placements by international forensic doctors and scientists.
The International Centre for Geriatric Forensic Medicine and Nursing is a world leader in empirical and translational research, education and public policy in all the medico-legal aspects of ageing. The Centre’s human resource capacity includes recognised experts from Victoria, nationally throughout Australia and internationally from USA, Canada, UK, NZ and other countries in the fields of aged care, health law and public policy.
Our purpose is to develop and conduct research, education, training and clinical engagement, and to promote policy reforms that protects the rights and choices of older people, as well as addressing elder abuse and preventable harm from injury including health care.
The centre is committed to serving the public interest nationally and internationally by promoting and integrating the fields of health, aged care, medicine, law and forensic science into practice. The Centre is led by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with clinical and operational expertise from Dr David Ranson and Dr Nicola Cunningham.
The Violence Investigation, Research and Training Unit (VIRTU) comprises co-leadership by our clinical and research staff, Dr Maaike Moller, Clinical Forensic Medicine and Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja, Department of Forensic Medicine. Associate Professor Richard Bassed is the sponsor of the unit and a research contributor.
The purpose of VIRTU is to conduct research and training activities that enhance the medico-legal investigation of self-directed and interpersonal violence. By optimising the medico-legal investigation of violence it is intended that public health and legal outcomes can be improved.
VIRTU was established in 2018 with the initial projects including:
All vacancies are placed on the Careers Gov website. Resumes and job applications can only be accepted in response to a specific vacancy that is advertised via www.careers.vic.gov.au.
For specific queries relating to vacant positions, please contact the Position Contact listed in each advertisement. Please do not submit your resume “just in case”.
However, you can register to be sent e-mail alerts from VIFM jobs via www.careers.vic.gov.au as soon as jobs that match your requirements are advertised. Go to the Current Vacancies on the website and click on Register to set up an account.
TOEFL Paper-based test: 600 with a TWE of 5.0
TOEFL Internet-based test; score of 100 overall with minimum scores: Writing – 24, Listening – 20, Reading – 20 & Speaking – 20.
The VIFM provided training for local authorities on Management of the Dead in disasters at the request of the WHO.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 to provide advice to the WHO on Management of the Dead. The VIFM delivered training in management of the Dead in disasters for police first responders in Manila in 2018.
The VIFM has also delivered forensic medical training in Sri Lanka and provided advice on mortuary planning and management.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to Japan for the ICRC following the 2014 to provide advice on management of the dead.
Stephen Cordner and VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau deployed to Kathmandu in 2015 for the ICRC in the aftermath of the earthquake to provide advice on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) infrastructure and response.
Professor Stephen Cordner delivered intensive training in Forensic Medicine for Afghani doctors in Kabul in August 2015 for the ICRC.
The molecular biology staff of the Forensic Services Division can provide scientific expert opinions across a range of fields relating to DNA analysis and interpretation including: testing of new or historic samples and the interpretation of the test results from other laboratories.
There is considerable amount of information that can be gathered from a crime scene. The correlation of the appearances of a death scene with the findings on the body may be of crucial significance in reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the individual’s death.
The scope of examination at the scene of death depends on the circumstances, but in most cases, important forensic information can be gathered from:
In some cases it may be possible for a forensic practitioner, on examining a body at the scene of a suspicious death, to raise the possibility that the death is the result of a natural disease process. The provision of timely information from the VIFM practitioners to investigators may assist in focusing the police investigation. Where a potentially suspicious death can be quickly identified to be due to natural disease, unnecessary criminal investigations can be avoided, preventing the waste of valuable police resources.
When a death occurs in circumstance suggestive of a possible crime the death scene is examined by a team of individuals that comprises police officers, forensic scientists, forensic pathologists and other specialist examiners such as forensic anthropologists or entomologists. Other specialists may also be involved in the examination of a scene of a suspicious death including surveyors, photographers and video-camera operators.
The case investigation process begins with the analysis of information relating to the deceased person prior to death, together with an analysis of the scene, and the environment in which the person died or was found dead. Investigators from the VIFM include details of their crime scene investigation in their medico-legal reports as it is usually relevant to the interpretation of their medical or scientific findings. The police crime scene examiners or forensic scientists complete the overall examination of a crime scene, and deal with the matters not directly related to the body.
Led by forensic toxicologist, Dr Jennifer Pilgrim, the drug intelligence research unit specialises in the investigation of the harmful outcomes of licit and illicit drug use on the community. Utilising a multidisciplinary approach combining forensic toxicology, public health and injury epidemiology has led directly to changes in Australian public health policy. The unit continues to be a research leader in this field with a focus on death prevention and safer drug use.
Led by Professor Ozane Smith, the unintentional injury prevention unit focuses on consumer product safety and injury prevention in low and middle income countries. This research unit has contributed to World Health Organisation initiatives, such as the Global Report of Drowning.
Managed by the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, the intentional injury prevention unit is a multi-disciplinary team combining expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with assistance from Dr Lyndal Bugeja, and focuses on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Download the Clinical Forensic Medicine Course Stream PDF
The VIFM developed a training curriculum on the Management of the Dead in disasters for ASEAN Police First Responders. The first workshop was delivered to the Malaysian National Police in July 2017 and a second workshop was delivered in the Philippines in November 2018.
Professor Stephen Cordner participated in the inaugural International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics in Gujarat, India.
The VIFM Forensic Technical Services and CAE Manager, Dr Jodie Leditschke was invited by the ICRC to be a lecturer in the training program for forensic doctors, disaster managers and government representatives from Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Libya and South Africa.
At the International Association of Forensic Sciences Meeting in Ontario in 2017, the VIFM hosted a day-long APMLA workshop on the Forensic Response to Mass Disasters and Terrorist Attacks in the Asia Pacific Region.
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) commissioned the VIFM in May 2018 to undertake a review to improve the practice and response of its member organisations in the prevention of sexual misconduct.
The VIFM forensic pathologists and technicians visited Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in 2016 to undertake forensic autopsies at the request of the Ministry of Justice.
Identification of victims of MH17 – need details
Tsunami – need details
VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau was deployed to the Ukraine in March 2016 for four weeks. Dr Blau undertook an assessment of the main mortuary in Donetsk and training requirements for dead body management in conflict settings, the examination of remains and ante and post-mortem data management.
Forensic pathologists, Professor Stephen Corner and Dr Heinrich Bouwer undertook separate deployments to Liberia in August and September 2014 for the ICRC to provide advice on dead body management in the Ebola crisis.
Associate Professor David Wells was the lead author for a WHO publication that provides guidelines for the Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations.
Professor Stephen Cordner, in consultation with the ICRC Forensic Advisory Board and others, edited the 2017 update of the WHO/ICRC’s The Management of Dead Bodies Following Disasters: A field manual for first responders. This was launched in Geneva in 2016.
In December 2014, the VIFM completed a two year project for institutional strengthening of Samoa’s infrastructure for the medico-legal investigation of and care for adult and child victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Professor Stephen Cordner and Associate Professor David Wells were commissioned by the UNODC to undertake forensic medical capacity development planning and resource development for the State of Palestine. This work has included the development of an autopsy manual and the training of forensic medical staff in Palestine.
• Make high level, independent judgements in the forensic setting
• Become an expert clinical forensic practitioners
• Gain expert knowledge of medico-legal principles
• Develop the skills to clearly communicate medico-legal issues to the justice system
• Learn to interpret wounds and injury patterns
• Critically evaluate the ethical and legal issues arising in forensic medical practice
The investigation of diseases caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
The investigation of allergic reactions and autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and thyroid conditions.
The investigation of diseases that affect the blood such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, clotting or bleeding disorders as well as management of blood transfusions.
The analysis and interpretation of abnormal changes in chemicals found in blood and body fluids (such as electrolytes, enzymes and proteins).
The analysis of chromosomes and DNA to diagnose genetic diseases and to assist in the identification of individuals and their families.
The examination of organs and tissues for features of disease and responses to injury.
In collaboration with totheletter DNA and the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, the VIFM is undertaking a pilot project to evaluate a genetic genealogy approach to identifying a small number of coronial cases where conventional DNA analysis has not provided results. A detailed DNA profile from the unidentified body will be uploaded into a genealogy website, such as GEDmatch, and any kinship matches to DNA profiles provided by other GEDmatch participants are analysed by a genealogist to attempt to identify a common ancestor and relationships to immediate family members. This technology has been used successfully in the USA to identify alleged offenders, missing persons and the biological parents of adoptees.
The VIFM is directing a research project at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) in Western Sydney. The project will identify techniques or methods that can assist in the location of mass graves in different environments. The detection of clandestine graves in heavily vegetated areas, where conventional satellite imagery is of no use, is challenging. For the first time in the Southern hemisphere real bodies from body donation programs have been used to create a series of mock mass graves. Baseline environmental data has been collected to monitor and study the effects of decomposition with a limited range of detection techniques over a three year period. Initial results are promising.
The VIFM is researching the development of techniques to predict what the face would look like for an unidentified skull using CT scans with machine learning software. This software could potentially be combined with the use of the VIFM’s new Massive Parallel Sequencer (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone) to provide more realistic reconstruction of faces of unidentified remains.
Working towards improving the investigation of unidentified human remains in an Australian context: The VIFM is assessing the accuracy of bomb pulse dating for estimating year of birth and death in decomposed or skeletonised remains. The atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the 1950s and early 1960s produced large amounts of radiocarbon. Different biological tissues (bone, tooth, hair and nail) will be tested at the Australian National University by comparing environmental levels of Carbon-14 (14C) to 14C levels within these tissues to estimate the year of tissue formation.
The VIFM is working with Defence and Science Technology (DST) in the Commonwealth Department of Defence to determine the ability of automated facial recognition system to identify and verify deceased individuals. DST has expertise in developing and testing facial recognition software. This will be the first project to assess its ability to match the image of a deceased person with an ante-mortem photo of that individual. If successful, this type of software may be used in DVI responses involving large numbers of deceased.
As it is not possible for VIFM to offer work experience to students due to the sensitive nature of our work, secondary school students in years 10, 11 and 12 have the opportunity to attend a Career Information afternoon. These sessions are designed to offer an insight into the various career options available and are held twice a year during the April and September school holidays.
Specialist staff from VIFM, Victoria Police and the Coroners Court will talk to students about what it’s like to work in their chosen fields and what path they took to get where they are today. Students wishing to attend MUST complete the registration as numbers are limited. Please check back here closer to April or September for the sign-up link. If your query is not answered in this section, please contact the HR & OD team via email at jobs@vifm.org
If you are unable to attend a session, or would like more information about what we do, please view our web series which is due out in 2019.
The Health Law and Ageing Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim with assistance from Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja.
The unit is focused on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Research in this area uses existing information from medico-legal death investigations of older people, and applies the results to identify opportunities for improvement, and to inform changes and optimal practice through the development of new resources, policies, procedures and protocols for aged care and health professionals.
Specific research projects of this unit include:
In December of 2017, the National Assembly of The Gambia passed a bill establishing a Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) which aims to “investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights in the period from July 1994 to January 2017”. Part of the work of the TRRC is to “establish and make known the fate or whereabouts of disappeared victims” (TRRC Act 2017, page 9). Location and identification of the missing is therefore essential.
Associate Professor Soren Blau spent 8 days in Gambia working with TRRC investigators and commissioners providing forensic advice for specific cases. While exhumation has been a common activity of many truth commissions, the implementation of exhumation is the first endeavour of this kind for the TRRC in The Gambia.
The VIFM receives regular visits by international forensic medical delegations and also hosts training placements by international forensic doctors and scientists.
The International Centre for Geriatric Forensic Medicine and Nursing is a world leader in empirical and translational research, education and public policy in all the medico-legal aspects of ageing. The Centre’s human resource capacity includes recognised experts from Victoria, nationally throughout Australia and internationally from USA, Canada, UK, NZ and other countries in the fields of aged care, health law and public policy.
Our purpose is to develop and conduct research, education, training and clinical engagement, and to promote policy reforms that protects the rights and choices of older people, as well as addressing elder abuse and preventable harm from injury including health care.
The centre is committed to serving the public interest nationally and internationally by promoting and integrating the fields of health, aged care, medicine, law and forensic science into practice. The Centre is led by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with clinical and operational expertise from Dr David Ranson and Dr Nicola Cunningham.
The Violence Investigation, Research and Training Unit (VIRTU) comprises co-leadership by our clinical and research staff, Dr Maaike Moller, Clinical Forensic Medicine and Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja, Department of Forensic Medicine. Associate Professor Richard Bassed is the sponsor of the unit and a research contributor.
The purpose of VIRTU is to conduct research and training activities that enhance the medico-legal investigation of self-directed and interpersonal violence. By optimising the medico-legal investigation of violence it is intended that public health and legal outcomes can be improved.
VIRTU was established in 2018 with the initial projects including:
All vacancies are placed on the Careers Gov website. Resumes and job applications can only be accepted in response to a specific vacancy that is advertised via www.careers.vic.gov.au.
For specific queries relating to vacant positions, please contact the Position Contact listed in each advertisement. Please do not submit your resume “just in case”.
However, you can register to be sent e-mail alerts from VIFM jobs via www.careers.vic.gov.au as soon as jobs that match your requirements are advertised. Go to the Current Vacancies on the website and click on Register to set up an account.
TOEFL Paper-based test: 600 with a TWE of 5.0
TOEFL Internet-based test; score of 100 overall with minimum scores: Writing – 24, Listening – 20, Reading – 20 & Speaking – 20.
The VIFM provided training for local authorities on Management of the Dead in disasters at the request of the WHO.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 to provide advice to the WHO on Management of the Dead. The VIFM delivered training in management of the Dead in disasters for police first responders in Manila in 2018.
The VIFM has also delivered forensic medical training in Sri Lanka and provided advice on mortuary planning and management.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to Japan for the ICRC following the 2014 to provide advice on management of the dead.
Stephen Cordner and VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau deployed to Kathmandu in 2015 for the ICRC in the aftermath of the earthquake to provide advice on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) infrastructure and response.
Professor Stephen Cordner delivered intensive training in Forensic Medicine for Afghani doctors in Kabul in August 2015 for the ICRC.
The molecular biology staff of the Forensic Services Division can provide scientific expert opinions across a range of fields relating to DNA analysis and interpretation including: testing of new or historic samples and the interpretation of the test results from other laboratories.
There is considerable amount of information that can be gathered from a crime scene. The correlation of the appearances of a death scene with the findings on the body may be of crucial significance in reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the individual’s death.
The scope of examination at the scene of death depends on the circumstances, but in most cases, important forensic information can be gathered from:
In some cases it may be possible for a forensic practitioner, on examining a body at the scene of a suspicious death, to raise the possibility that the death is the result of a natural disease process. The provision of timely information from the VIFM practitioners to investigators may assist in focusing the police investigation. Where a potentially suspicious death can be quickly identified to be due to natural disease, unnecessary criminal investigations can be avoided, preventing the waste of valuable police resources.
When a death occurs in circumstance suggestive of a possible crime the death scene is examined by a team of individuals that comprises police officers, forensic scientists, forensic pathologists and other specialist examiners such as forensic anthropologists or entomologists. Other specialists may also be involved in the examination of a scene of a suspicious death including surveyors, photographers and video-camera operators.
The case investigation process begins with the analysis of information relating to the deceased person prior to death, together with an analysis of the scene, and the environment in which the person died or was found dead. Investigators from the VIFM include details of their crime scene investigation in their medico-legal reports as it is usually relevant to the interpretation of their medical or scientific findings. The police crime scene examiners or forensic scientists complete the overall examination of a crime scene, and deal with the matters not directly related to the body.
Led by forensic toxicologist, Dr Jennifer Pilgrim, the drug intelligence research unit specialises in the investigation of the harmful outcomes of licit and illicit drug use on the community. Utilising a multidisciplinary approach combining forensic toxicology, public health and injury epidemiology has led directly to changes in Australian public health policy. The unit continues to be a research leader in this field with a focus on death prevention and safer drug use.
Led by Professor Ozane Smith, the unintentional injury prevention unit focuses on consumer product safety and injury prevention in low and middle income countries. This research unit has contributed to World Health Organisation initiatives, such as the Global Report of Drowning.
Managed by the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, the intentional injury prevention unit is a multi-disciplinary team combining expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with assistance from Dr Lyndal Bugeja, and focuses on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Download the Clinical Forensic Medicine Course Stream PDF
The VIFM developed a training curriculum on the Management of the Dead in disasters for ASEAN Police First Responders. The first workshop was delivered to the Malaysian National Police in July 2017 and a second workshop was delivered in the Philippines in November 2018.
Professor Stephen Cordner participated in the inaugural International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics in Gujarat, India.
The VIFM Forensic Technical Services and CAE Manager, Dr Jodie Leditschke was invited by the ICRC to be a lecturer in the training program for forensic doctors, disaster managers and government representatives from Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Libya and South Africa.
At the International Association of Forensic Sciences Meeting in Ontario in 2017, the VIFM hosted a day-long APMLA workshop on the Forensic Response to Mass Disasters and Terrorist Attacks in the Asia Pacific Region.
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) commissioned the VIFM in May 2018 to undertake a review to improve the practice and response of its member organisations in the prevention of sexual misconduct.
The VIFM forensic pathologists and technicians visited Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in 2016 to undertake forensic autopsies at the request of the Ministry of Justice.
Identification of victims of MH17 – need details
Tsunami – need details
VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau was deployed to the Ukraine in March 2016 for four weeks. Dr Blau undertook an assessment of the main mortuary in Donetsk and training requirements for dead body management in conflict settings, the examination of remains and ante and post-mortem data management.
Forensic pathologists, Professor Stephen Corner and Dr Heinrich Bouwer undertook separate deployments to Liberia in August and September 2014 for the ICRC to provide advice on dead body management in the Ebola crisis.
Associate Professor David Wells was the lead author for a WHO publication that provides guidelines for the Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations.
Professor Stephen Cordner, in consultation with the ICRC Forensic Advisory Board and others, edited the 2017 update of the WHO/ICRC’s The Management of Dead Bodies Following Disasters: A field manual for first responders. This was launched in Geneva in 2016.
In December 2014, the VIFM completed a two year project for institutional strengthening of Samoa’s infrastructure for the medico-legal investigation of and care for adult and child victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Professor Stephen Cordner and Associate Professor David Wells were commissioned by the UNODC to undertake forensic medical capacity development planning and resource development for the State of Palestine. This work has included the development of an autopsy manual and the training of forensic medical staff in Palestine.
• Make high level, independent judgements in the forensic setting
• Become an expert clinical forensic practitioners
• Gain expert knowledge of medico-legal principles
• Develop the skills to clearly communicate medico-legal issues to the justice system
• Learn to interpret wounds and injury patterns
• Critically evaluate the ethical and legal issues arising in forensic medical practice
The investigation of diseases caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
The investigation of allergic reactions and autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and thyroid conditions.
The investigation of diseases that affect the blood such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, clotting or bleeding disorders as well as management of blood transfusions.
The analysis and interpretation of abnormal changes in chemicals found in blood and body fluids (such as electrolytes, enzymes and proteins).
The analysis of chromosomes and DNA to diagnose genetic diseases and to assist in the identification of individuals and their families.
The examination of organs and tissues for features of disease and responses to injury.
In collaboration with totheletter DNA and the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, the VIFM is undertaking a pilot project to evaluate a genetic genealogy approach to identifying a small number of coronial cases where conventional DNA analysis has not provided results. A detailed DNA profile from the unidentified body will be uploaded into a genealogy website, such as GEDmatch, and any kinship matches to DNA profiles provided by other GEDmatch participants are analysed by a genealogist to attempt to identify a common ancestor and relationships to immediate family members. This technology has been used successfully in the USA to identify alleged offenders, missing persons and the biological parents of adoptees.
The VIFM is directing a research project at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) in Western Sydney. The project will identify techniques or methods that can assist in the location of mass graves in different environments. The detection of clandestine graves in heavily vegetated areas, where conventional satellite imagery is of no use, is challenging. For the first time in the Southern hemisphere real bodies from body donation programs have been used to create a series of mock mass graves. Baseline environmental data has been collected to monitor and study the effects of decomposition with a limited range of detection techniques over a three year period. Initial results are promising.
The VIFM is researching the development of techniques to predict what the face would look like for an unidentified skull using CT scans with machine learning software. This software could potentially be combined with the use of the VIFM’s new Massive Parallel Sequencer (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone) to provide more realistic reconstruction of faces of unidentified remains.
Working towards improving the investigation of unidentified human remains in an Australian context: The VIFM is assessing the accuracy of bomb pulse dating for estimating year of birth and death in decomposed or skeletonised remains. The atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the 1950s and early 1960s produced large amounts of radiocarbon. Different biological tissues (bone, tooth, hair and nail) will be tested at the Australian National University by comparing environmental levels of Carbon-14 (14C) to 14C levels within these tissues to estimate the year of tissue formation.
The VIFM is working with Defence and Science Technology (DST) in the Commonwealth Department of Defence to determine the ability of automated facial recognition system to identify and verify deceased individuals. DST has expertise in developing and testing facial recognition software. This will be the first project to assess its ability to match the image of a deceased person with an ante-mortem photo of that individual. If successful, this type of software may be used in DVI responses involving large numbers of deceased.
As it is not possible for VIFM to offer work experience to students due to the sensitive nature of our work, secondary school students in years 10, 11 and 12 have the opportunity to attend a Career Information afternoon. These sessions are designed to offer an insight into the various career options available and are held twice a year during the April and September school holidays.
Specialist staff from VIFM, Victoria Police and the Coroners Court will talk to students about what it’s like to work in their chosen fields and what path they took to get where they are today. Students wishing to attend MUST complete the registration as numbers are limited. Please check back here closer to April or September for the sign-up link. If your query is not answered in this section, please contact the HR & OD team via email at jobs@vifm.org
If you are unable to attend a session, or would like more information about what we do, please view our web series which is due out in 2019.
The Health Law and Ageing Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim with assistance from Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja.
The unit is focused on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Research in this area uses existing information from medico-legal death investigations of older people, and applies the results to identify opportunities for improvement, and to inform changes and optimal practice through the development of new resources, policies, procedures and protocols for aged care and health professionals.
Specific research projects of this unit include:
In December of 2017, the National Assembly of The Gambia passed a bill establishing a Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) which aims to “investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights in the period from July 1994 to January 2017”. Part of the work of the TRRC is to “establish and make known the fate or whereabouts of disappeared victims” (TRRC Act 2017, page 9). Location and identification of the missing is therefore essential.
Associate Professor Soren Blau spent 8 days in Gambia working with TRRC investigators and commissioners providing forensic advice for specific cases. While exhumation has been a common activity of many truth commissions, the implementation of exhumation is the first endeavour of this kind for the TRRC in The Gambia.
The VIFM receives regular visits by international forensic medical delegations and also hosts training placements by international forensic doctors and scientists.
The International Centre for Geriatric Forensic Medicine and Nursing is a world leader in empirical and translational research, education and public policy in all the medico-legal aspects of ageing. The Centre’s human resource capacity includes recognised experts from Victoria, nationally throughout Australia and internationally from USA, Canada, UK, NZ and other countries in the fields of aged care, health law and public policy.
Our purpose is to develop and conduct research, education, training and clinical engagement, and to promote policy reforms that protects the rights and choices of older people, as well as addressing elder abuse and preventable harm from injury including health care.
The centre is committed to serving the public interest nationally and internationally by promoting and integrating the fields of health, aged care, medicine, law and forensic science into practice. The Centre is led by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with clinical and operational expertise from Dr David Ranson and Dr Nicola Cunningham.
The Violence Investigation, Research and Training Unit (VIRTU) comprises co-leadership by our clinical and research staff, Dr Maaike Moller, Clinical Forensic Medicine and Associate Professor Lyndal Bugeja, Department of Forensic Medicine. Associate Professor Richard Bassed is the sponsor of the unit and a research contributor.
The purpose of VIRTU is to conduct research and training activities that enhance the medico-legal investigation of self-directed and interpersonal violence. By optimising the medico-legal investigation of violence it is intended that public health and legal outcomes can be improved.
VIRTU was established in 2018 with the initial projects including:
All vacancies are placed on the Careers Gov website. Resumes and job applications can only be accepted in response to a specific vacancy that is advertised via www.careers.vic.gov.au.
For specific queries relating to vacant positions, please contact the Position Contact listed in each advertisement. Please do not submit your resume “just in case”.
However, you can register to be sent e-mail alerts from VIFM jobs via www.careers.vic.gov.au as soon as jobs that match your requirements are advertised. Go to the Current Vacancies on the website and click on Register to set up an account.
TOEFL Paper-based test: 600 with a TWE of 5.0
TOEFL Internet-based test; score of 100 overall with minimum scores: Writing – 24, Listening – 20, Reading – 20 & Speaking – 20.
The VIFM provided training for local authorities on Management of the Dead in disasters at the request of the WHO.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 to provide advice to the WHO on Management of the Dead. The VIFM delivered training in management of the Dead in disasters for police first responders in Manila in 2018.
The VIFM has also delivered forensic medical training in Sri Lanka and provided advice on mortuary planning and management.
Professor Stephen Cordner deployed to Japan for the ICRC following the 2014 to provide advice on management of the dead.
Stephen Cordner and VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau deployed to Kathmandu in 2015 for the ICRC in the aftermath of the earthquake to provide advice on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) infrastructure and response.
Professor Stephen Cordner delivered intensive training in Forensic Medicine for Afghani doctors in Kabul in August 2015 for the ICRC.
The molecular biology staff of the Forensic Services Division can provide scientific expert opinions across a range of fields relating to DNA analysis and interpretation including: testing of new or historic samples and the interpretation of the test results from other laboratories.
There is considerable amount of information that can be gathered from a crime scene. The correlation of the appearances of a death scene with the findings on the body may be of crucial significance in reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the individual’s death.
The scope of examination at the scene of death depends on the circumstances, but in most cases, important forensic information can be gathered from:
In some cases it may be possible for a forensic practitioner, on examining a body at the scene of a suspicious death, to raise the possibility that the death is the result of a natural disease process. The provision of timely information from the VIFM practitioners to investigators may assist in focusing the police investigation. Where a potentially suspicious death can be quickly identified to be due to natural disease, unnecessary criminal investigations can be avoided, preventing the waste of valuable police resources.
When a death occurs in circumstance suggestive of a possible crime the death scene is examined by a team of individuals that comprises police officers, forensic scientists, forensic pathologists and other specialist examiners such as forensic anthropologists or entomologists. Other specialists may also be involved in the examination of a scene of a suspicious death including surveyors, photographers and video-camera operators.
The case investigation process begins with the analysis of information relating to the deceased person prior to death, together with an analysis of the scene, and the environment in which the person died or was found dead. Investigators from the VIFM include details of their crime scene investigation in their medico-legal reports as it is usually relevant to the interpretation of their medical or scientific findings. The police crime scene examiners or forensic scientists complete the overall examination of a crime scene, and deal with the matters not directly related to the body.
Led by forensic toxicologist, Dr Jennifer Pilgrim, the drug intelligence research unit specialises in the investigation of the harmful outcomes of licit and illicit drug use on the community. Utilising a multidisciplinary approach combining forensic toxicology, public health and injury epidemiology has led directly to changes in Australian public health policy. The unit continues to be a research leader in this field with a focus on death prevention and safer drug use.
Led by Professor Ozane Smith, the unintentional injury prevention unit focuses on consumer product safety and injury prevention in low and middle income countries. This research unit has contributed to World Health Organisation initiatives, such as the Global Report of Drowning.
Managed by the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, the intentional injury prevention unit is a multi-disciplinary team combining expertise in public health, forensic investigation, health care, aged care and law. The unit is headed by Professor Joseph Ibrahim, with assistance from Dr Lyndal Bugeja, and focuses on delivering a reduction of injury and premature deaths, the promotion of respect for older persons’ choices, and developing the workforce providing aged care services.
Download the Clinical Forensic Medicine Course Stream PDF
The VIFM developed a training curriculum on the Management of the Dead in disasters for ASEAN Police First Responders. The first workshop was delivered to the Malaysian National Police in July 2017 and a second workshop was delivered in the Philippines in November 2018.
Professor Stephen Cordner participated in the inaugural International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics in Gujarat, India.
The VIFM Forensic Technical Services and CAE Manager, Dr Jodie Leditschke was invited by the ICRC to be a lecturer in the training program for forensic doctors, disaster managers and government representatives from Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Libya and South Africa.
At the International Association of Forensic Sciences Meeting in Ontario in 2017, the VIFM hosted a day-long APMLA workshop on the Forensic Response to Mass Disasters and Terrorist Attacks in the Asia Pacific Region.
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) commissioned the VIFM in May 2018 to undertake a review to improve the practice and response of its member organisations in the prevention of sexual misconduct.
The VIFM forensic pathologists and technicians visited Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in 2016 to undertake forensic autopsies at the request of the Ministry of Justice.
Identification of victims of MH17 – need details
Tsunami – need details
VIFM forensic anthropologist, Dr Soren Blau was deployed to the Ukraine in March 2016 for four weeks. Dr Blau undertook an assessment of the main mortuary in Donetsk and training requirements for dead body management in conflict settings, the examination of remains and ante and post-mortem data management.
Forensic pathologists, Professor Stephen Corner and Dr Heinrich Bouwer undertook separate deployments to Liberia in August and September 2014 for the ICRC to provide advice on dead body management in the Ebola crisis.
Associate Professor David Wells was the lead author for a WHO publication that provides guidelines for the Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations.
Professor Stephen Cordner, in consultation with the ICRC Forensic Advisory Board and others, edited the 2017 update of the WHO/ICRC’s The Management of Dead Bodies Following Disasters: A field manual for first responders. This was launched in Geneva in 2016.
In December 2014, the VIFM completed a two year project for institutional strengthening of Samoa’s infrastructure for the medico-legal investigation of and care for adult and child victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Professor Stephen Cordner and Associate Professor David Wells were commissioned by the UNODC to undertake forensic medical capacity development planning and resource development for the State of Palestine. This work has included the development of an autopsy manual and the training of forensic medical staff in Palestine.
• Make high level, independent judgements in the forensic setting
• Become an expert clinical forensic practitioners
• Gain expert knowledge of medico-legal principles
• Develop the skills to clearly communicate medico-legal issues to the justice system
• Learn to interpret wounds and injury patterns
• Critically evaluate the ethical and legal issues arising in forensic medical practice
The investigation of diseases caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
The investigation of allergic reactions and autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and thyroid conditions.
The investigation of diseases that affect the blood such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, clotting or bleeding disorders as well as management of blood transfusions.
The analysis and interpretation of abnormal changes in chemicals found in blood and body fluids (such as electrolytes, enzymes and proteins).
The analysis of chromosomes and DNA to diagnose genetic diseases and to assist in the identification of individuals and their families.
The examination of organs and tissues for features of disease and responses to injury.
