4-Day Short Course | 22-25 June 2026
This 4-day course offers an in-depth study of the human skeleton through lectures & workshops using real skeletal remains from the VIFM.
The course will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of human skeletal and dental anatomy and give participants the opportunity to learn how to identify and side skeletal elements (including major anatomical landmarks) and classify dental remains. Participants will also be introduced to the osteological principles of differentiating human from non-human bone, identifying juvenile remains, identifying fragmentary remains and creating a biological profile (i.e. estimating age, sex, ancestry and stature).
This course is beneficial for archaeologists, museum curators and heritage officers who may work with skeletal remains; students who are interested in pursuing studies/careers in biological archaeolog or forensic anthropology, and medical professionals (i.e. forensic pathologists) who are required to undertake anthropological examinations of skeletal remains.
No prior knowledge of human osteology is required for this course. Lectures will be delivered by discipline specific experts from the VIFM and external organisations.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course participants will be able to:
- understand the basic principles of bone biology and skeletal growth
- understand the basic principles of human variation
- identify the major anatomical landmarks and key features of each bone
- side each bone in the human body
- distinguish human bones from some of the most common animal bones
- identify the main bone features that are used to provide a biological profile (sex, age, ancestry and stature)
Course Details
- Dates: Monday 22 June to Thursday 25 June 2026
- Timings: 9am to 5pm daily
- Location: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC 3006
- Parking: There is no parking available on site, but there are paid parking options nearby
- Public Transport: the venue is a short 10 minute walk from Flinders Street Station
- Refreshments: morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are provided (including special dietary requests)
- Participants: maximum of 24 participants
- NOTE: this is a non-residential course
Course Fees and Inclusions
Course fees: $1100 p.p. for professionals, $900 p.p. for students, inclusive of GST and a booking fee. This fee also includes:
- A course manual
- A copy of the textbook “The Human Bone Manual” By White & Folkens 2005
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Group dinner
- Certificate of completion
BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW!
You can book a place on this course through VIFM’s Eventbrite page – click here.
Dr Samantha Rowbotham, the Senior Forensic Anthropologist and Manager, Human Identification Services at the Victorian of Institute of Forensic Medicine is the host and course leader. Sam is also an Adjunct Research Fellow with Monash University; a Churchill Fellow (2020); Chair of the Forensic Anthropology Technical Advisory Group (ANZPAA-NIFS)(2023-2027); and a Trainee in the Faculty of Science (Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia). She holds a Bachelor of Arts (2010, UQ), Master of Archaeological Science (2012, ANU), and Doctor of Philosophy (2018, Monash). Her research interests primarily lie in strengthening the evidence base for the analysis and interpretation of skeletal trauma in medico-legal contexts.