Attorney-General Visits The VIFM

2-Minute Read

17 September 2025

The Institute had a visit from the Victorian Attorney-General, the Honorable Sonya Kilkenny on Wednesday 3 September.

A new era for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine commenced in July 2025, when the VIFM opened its new MRI facility, making it the first dedicated Forensic Medicine facility in Australia to have an MRI. This was one of the final pieces of an intense capital works program that began in 2022, which also included upgrades to the mortuary, redevelopment of the Coronial Admissions and Enquiries Centre, and the construction of a new substation and backup generator facility.

The Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Planning, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny visited the Institute to mark the occasion and was hosted by Dr Margaret Grigg, Chair of the VIFM Board and Professor Noel Woodford, CEO and Director of Forensic Medicine. Nina Taylor, MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Education, also attended the tour in her home electorate of Albert Park.

Pictured left to right: Sonya Kilkenny, Attorney-General. Sam Werner, Executive Director DJCS, Prof Noel Woodford, CEO, VIFM. Nina Taylor, MP for Albert Park. Dr Margaret Grigg, Chair, VIFM Board.

“It has been a very proud day for us all. The Victorian Attorney-General’s untiring enthusiasm drove government support for our world-leading MRI facility firstly through the former Attorney-General the Hon. Jaclyn Symes, and now through the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny. It has been especially pleasing to have Sonya visit, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with her in the future.”
Noel Woodford,
CEO and Director of Forensic Medicine, VIFM

Jodie Leditschke, VIFM’s Manager of Forensic Technical Services and Coronial Admissions commenced the tour in the Coronial Admissions and Enquiries reception and family viewing areas. “The AG could see how this has become a much more welcoming space for families, and how it reflects the Government and VIFM’s commitment to creating a respectful, supportive, and secure space for everyone who comes through our doors, including our team members.” There have also been significant improvements to staff facilities, with a larger, dedicated office space giving added privacy and security, and a new tea-room. The dedicated car park and separate public entrance has been extended and improved.

Assoc. Professor Jo Glengarry, Head of Forensic Pathology Services then led the group through the redeveloped forensic pathology and mortuary facilities. “It was a privilege to introduce our skilled forensic technical officers and outline the careful steps by which the deceased are received into our care. I was proud to demonstrate the compassion, diligence, and world-class investigative work performed by our mortuary and forensic pathology teams.” The renovations have seen significant improvements to our body storage facilities, with an increased capacity, and technologically advanced body management systems.

At the heart of the tour was the Forensic Radiology department, featuring the brand new MRI scanner, and an upgraded CT scanner. “This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the new MRI facility, to see the government’s investment up close, and to discuss the benefits that this will bring to the community and the coronial process. We really appreciate the time she spent with us, and we’d love her to visit again soon” said Chris O’Donnell, Forensic Radiologist, VIFM. The MRI will significantly improve VIFM’s diagnostic capabilities in medicolegal death investigation and the investigation of subtle trauma, as well as opening the door to research in fields including infant deaths, brain diseases and other natural causes deaths.

Dr Maaike Moller is a Forensic Physician in the Clinical Forensic Medicine department, which undertakes medical examinations of adult sexual assault victims. “I was able to share some insight on the benefits of the new MRI scanner in Clinical Forensic Medicine, and particularly in the investigation of internal neck injuries in strangulation cases. The MRI can provide assessment soft tissue assessment when external signs are minimal or absent and is superior in that regard to a CT scanner.” MRI examination is extremely valuable in the investigation of injuries such as those that may occur in non-fatal strangulation where external signs may be minimal, as it has a superior capacity to detect subtle signs of soft tissue trauma. The MRI facility has a separate entrance and change-room for victim-survivors, including a dedicated scanning bed and equipment, patient intercom and screen, similar to those found in community MRI scanning facilities.

Nina Taylor MP for Albert Park also attended and spoke proudly of the “incredible work” of the VIFM, recognising that the Southbank site has now become the first dedicated forensic facility in Australia to have an MRI scanner. Nina has been a passionate supporter of the VIFM, and for the government’s investment in its capability and essential service delivery. Speaking in Parliament in 2024, she commented that “VIFM will remain well positioned to continue to provide world-leading and best practice forensic services.”

The Attorney-General and Ms Taylor also had the chance to meet the new State Coroner, Judge Liberty Sanger OAM at the start of the tour. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Coroners Court of Victoria share the Kavanagh St, Southbank building. Both are statutory agencies within the Justice and Community Safety portfolio of the Victorian State Government, and the Victorian Attorney-General is the responsible state minister.