Forensic Services
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Overview
Each year the Institute produces over 40,000 forensic medical and scientific reports for courts and justice agencies. These include expert opinions that underpin the proper functioning of the justice system. The reports reflect the diversity of our activities and encompass; death investigations, drink and drug related driving matters, physical and sexual assaults, incidents of family violence, child and elder abuse and the analysis of poisons, prescription drugs and illicit substances. Every day our doctors and scientists have to attend court as witnesses to explain their findings and to provide expert opinions to judicial officers and juries.
To ensure the quality and reliability of this work our forensic laboratories and individual staff members are subject to both internal and external assessments. In addition, our Quality management unit ensures that our forensic medical and scientific services meet the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) requirements.
Today, many of our senior staff are also accredited NATA assessors and undertake assessments of other forensic laboratories, an indication of their high professional standing within Australia.