Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Annual Report 2010/2011
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Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine ANNUAL REPORT 2010/2011 SERVING THE COURTS CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY II Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11 Report of Operations – Accountable Officer’s Declaration In accordance with Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to present the Report of Operations for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for the year ending 30 June 2011. Stephen Cordner Director VIFM ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11 CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY 1 Contents OVERVIEW Report of Operations – Accountable Officer’s Declaration inside front cover Who We Are 2 Chairman’s Report 4 Director’s Report 6 Obituaries and Tributes 9 OUR SERVICES 12 Medico-Legal Death Investigation Services 16 Clinical Forensic Medicine Service 24 Forensic Scientific Services 28 Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria 34 Department of Forensic Medicine (Monash University) 38 National Coronial Information System (NCIS) 43 International Program 44 Administration Support Services 46 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 54 Our Governance 55 The Institute Council 55 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 63 Legislative and Statutory Reporting 66 Risk Attestation 70 APPENDICES 71 Appendix A: Publications 71 Appendix B: Presentations and Abstracts 74 Appendix C: Committees 83 Appendix D: VIFM Staff by Department 85 Appendix E: VIFM Contract Staff 88 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 89 2 Who We Are We are committed to making our community a safer Our Legislation place to live. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine is a statutory As Australia’s most comprehensive forensic medical authority established by the Victorian Institute of Forensic centre, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine serves Medicine Act 1985 (VIFM Act 1985). It operates under the community and the courts. the auspices of the Department of Justice, reporting to Parliament through the Attorney-General, the Our statutory responsibilities are to provide independent, Hon Robert Clark. expert forensic medical and scientific services to the justice system, tissue for transplantation, to teach and to The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985 undertake research. provides the main statutory framework for the Institute’s operations, setting out its objects, functions, powers and The VIFM provides the justice system with evidence to other requirements. The Coroners Act 2008 provides underpin safe convictions and appropriate acquittals. further legislative requirements for our role as medical Its doctors help investigate deaths reported to the investigators undertaking autopsies and other medical Coroner, examine alleged offenders and assess, treat and and scientific examinations to assist coroners. support victims of crime. The Human Tissue Act 1982 sets the rules under which The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria supports patients and the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria (DTBV) undertakes their families by providing safe tissues for transplantation its work. Compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Act and medical research. 1989 also underpins the operation of the DTBV. The Act also regulates the donation and retrieval of human tissue As part of Monash University, the Department of Forensic before and after death, prohibits the trading in human Medicine teaches and conducts forensic medical, tissue and gives a legal definition of death. scientific and public health focused injury research often in collaboration with international organisations. Our Vision We will be recognised for excellence in what we do. Our Mission Underpinned by ethical principles, our purpose is to: • provide independent forensic medical services to the Victorian public and justice system • contribute more broadly to community health and safety (of communities in Australia and overseas) • increase knowledge through teaching and research and • enable the provision of high quality human tissue grafts for transplantation. “ Veritas Omnia Vincit – Truth Conquers All VIFM ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11 CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY 3 Our Core Values Our Role in Teaching, Training and Research Respect The legislation under which the Institute is established, We respect all people, our history, our calling and the law. and the mission which guides its strategic direction, Openness require the VIFM to undertake teaching and research in forensic medicine and related scientific disciplines, We are open minded. We are open to each other, and including tissue banking. Academic activities in forensic open to knowledge and learning. medicine and related disciplines are fundamental to the VIFM’s credibility in the courts, the justice system and its Service standing in the medical and scientific environment. We provide services for the community that are dedicated, responsive and client focused. Our Strategic Goals Integrity The Institute’s five year strategic plan 2008–12 sets out We will be beyond reproach. We commit to truth, four key goals which are fundamental to achieving our confidentiality, impartiality and accountability. vision and delivering our mission. The four goals are: We commit to systems that are secure, reliable, 1. Improve provision of quality forensic and scientific accurate, valid and safe. services and access to human tissue 2. Ensure a highly trained forensic, medical, scientific and Innovation technical workforce We are creative and curious. We are not afraid to 3. Increase VIFM’s research output, with an emphasis on do things differently. We will continue our search for death and injury prevention and public health and knowledge and truth. 4. Secure a sustainable future for the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria. Our Working Relationships Further information can be found in the VIFM Strategic The Institute’s success depends on the strength of Plan on the VIFM website: www.vifm.org our partnerships and our working relationships with those to whom we report and with whom we work, including: the Attorney-General, courts including the Coroners Court of Victoria (CCOV), the Department of Justice, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police, public and private hospitals. t . op ec en sp n e e r s s . n s o e i r t v a i v c o e n . n i i n . t e y t g i r 4 Chairman’s Report The reputation of the Institute was considerably enhanced by the manner in which its members efficiently and sensitively accomplished the task of identifying the victims of the recent Victorian bushfires. This expertise has been made available internationally for example, in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Indonesia and Thailand. “ VIFM ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11 CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY 5 The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine has been The fact is that Victorian governments of both political serving the community for almost 25 years. It is no idle persuasions have supported the work of this Institute and that boast to assert that it is one of the leading institutes in the support ought to be acknowledged. I would particularly like to international world of forensic medicine. mention the initiatives of successive Attorney-Generals: • The Honourable Jim Kennan, who, at the urging of Chief One of the unique features of the VIFM is the diversity of Justice John H Phillips and Professor Vernon Plueckhahn, its operations. established the Institute As a provider of objective, independent, expert evidence • The Honourable Jan Wade, who not only expanded the on medical and scientific matters, the Institute has Institute to include Clinical Forensic Medicine, but also acquired the confidence of the Courts. I can speak provided considerable funds for the VIFM to establish and personally of the views of my colleagues on the develop the National Coronial Information System and Supreme Court, including those of the Chief Justice. • The Honourable Rob Hulls who obtained the funding The presentation of expert evidence to the Courts in the to redevelop the premises housing the Institute and the area of Medico-Legal Death Investigation, and in cases Coroners Court of Victoria. of physical and sexual assault, is perhaps the principal The Institute welcomes the support of the new Attorney- activity of the Institute. General of Victoria, The Honourable Robert Clark, who, in The VIFM also serves the community in Disaster April 2011 launched the new VIFM website with its modern Victim Identification.T he reputation of the Institute was and comprehensive showcasing of the organisation through considerably enhanced by the manner in which its textual references and YouTube presentations. members efficiently and sensitively accomplished the In the past year, a number of individuals have made important task of identifying the victims of the recent Victorian contributions to the operation of the Institute. Once again bushfires.T his expertise has been made available the members of the Council have selflessly devoted their internationally for example, in East Timor, Solomon valuable time to ensure that the VIFM continues to perform Islands, Indonesia and Thailand. its statutory functions for the benefit of the community.T he The Institute houses the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria considerable work of Professor Bob Conyers as Chair of the with its capacity to improve the quality of life of the living, Executive & Finance and the Audit & Risk committees should with tissues for transplantation provided by the dead. be acknowledged, as should that of Mari-Ann Scott, the Chief Operating Officer. A team of specialist doctors and nurses make up the Clinical Forensic Medicine section of the Institute. Their During the reporting period Associate