2019-20/Annual REPORT VIFM’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FEATURE 1 2 Report of Operations Accountable Officer’s Declaration In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to present the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine’s Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2020. Professor Noel Woodford Director Contents Overview 06 Significant Events 72 Our Organisation at a Glance The Chairman’s Perspective Director’s Report Chief Operating Officer’s Report In Memoriam 74 Corporate Governance 18 Foundation VIFM Staff 75 The VIFM Council Feature 28 Financial Performance 78 VIFM’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Governance and 81 Operational Reporting 40 Compliance Reporting Forensic Services Division Drug Testing Services for Victoria Police Financial Statements 91 Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria Academic Programs The International Program Appendices 127 Research Governance 62 A: Disclosure Index at the VIFM B: VIFM’s Statutory Objects and Functions Reporting to 65 C: Committees Government D: Publications BP3 statistics table E: Presentations F: Staff by Department Highlights and 66 Achievements Overview Overview Who We Are As an institution focussed on forensic medicine, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) serves the community and the courts. Our statutory responsibilities are to provide independent forensic medical and scientific expertise to the justice system, tissue for transplantation, and to both teach and undertake research that will benefit the community. Our Motto The VIFM provides the justice system with the crucial evidence that underpins safe convictions and appropriate acquittals. Our doctors and scientists investigate deaths reported to the coroner, examine alleged offenders and medically assess and support victims of crime. The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria (DTBV) supports Veritas Omnia Vincit patients and their families by providing safe tissues to medical specialists and Victorian hospitals for transplantation and medical research. – Truth Conquers All Our medical and scientific staff members undertake research that directly contributes to public health and safety and the just working of our legal system. By contributing to the professional development and education of forensic pathologists, physicians and scientists, we ensure a high standard of forensic medical services for Victoria and provide critical support for our healthcare and Our Values justice systems. RESPECT - We respect all people, our history, our calling and the law. Mission OPENNESS - We are open-minded, open to each other, We exist to provide quality-driven, ethically-grounded, and open to knowledge and learning. independent forensic medical and scientific services for the justice system; to expand and share our knowledge locally and globally; and to make a positive contribution to the SERVICE - We provide services for the community that are health and safety of our community. responsive and client-focused. INTEGRITY - We will be beyond reproach. We commit to truth, confidentiality, impartiality and accountability. We commit Vision to systems that are secure, reliable, accurate, valid and safe. We strive to continue to be a trusted and innovative leader in global forensic medicine and science. INNOVATION - We are creative and curious. We are not afraid to do things differently. We will continue our search for knowledge and truth. 6 VIFM’s forensic pathologists Our Working Our Role in Teaching, Relationships Training and Research The Institute is a statutory agency within the Justice and The Institute’s founding legislation and mission requires us Community Safety portfolio and our responsible minister to undertake professional training and research in forensic is the Victorian Attorney-General. medicine and related scientific disciplines. We work in close partnership with many sectors of the These academic activities in medicine, law and science are Victorian community. fundamental to the Institute’s credibility in the courts and allow us to maintain a highly professional standing in national and The strength of the working relationships we have with international medical, legal and scientific communities. our clients and stakeholders is critical to our success. Our primary stakeholders are the courts and we work for, and in close collaboration with, the Coroners Court of Victoria. The Institute operates the Coronial Admissions and Enquiries office and undertakes medico-legal death investigations on behalf of the Coroners Court. The Institute also has a service level agreement with Victoria Police to deliver clinical forensic medical services and toxicology testing. Other important partners include the Victorian courts, Monash University and the University of Melbourne, the Australian Federal Police, legal and medical professionals, and public and private hospitals. 7 Our Organisation at a Glance Forensic Services and Donor Tissue Banking at VIFM Death Clinical Forensic Drug Testing Donor Tissue Bank Investigation Medicine Services for of Victoria Victoria Police » Forensic pathology » Sexual assault » Deceased and living donor » + Autopsy or external examinations Road traffic toxicology identification » examination » Physical assault Clinical toxicology » Tissue collection » + Histopathology examinations Occupational toxicology » Tissue processing » Forensic radiology » Examinations of victims » Tissue quality and safety » Mortuary services of interpersonal violence evaluation » Forensic science including family violence » Tissue distribution for + Post-mortem toxicology » Fitness for interview transplantation + Molecular biology (DNA) examinations » Tissue distribution for + Histology » Traffic medicine research + Microbiology » Clinical pharmacology » Forensic odontology » Forensic anthropology » Forensic entomology » Cold case investigations Academic Programs in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University Research Library Services International Program » Injury prevention Teaching & Training » Forensic capacity » Health law + Disaster victim identification » Undergraduate » Aged care xxpreparedness + Medical Law Program » Medical imaging + Forensic pathology + Forensic Medicine Program » Adverse medical events » Consultancy services » Postgraduate » Drug harm unit » Training and network facilitation + Master of Forensic Medicine » Coronial law » Humanitarian support + PhD by Research » International Programs 8 Corporate Services and Development providing corporate and logistical support to our operations Quality and Improvement Information, Communications and Technology » Oversight and management of the VIFM Quality Management System including: » Forensic operations IT system + Document control administration maintenance and development + Continuous Improvement Request and » IT and telecommunications infrastructure Corrective Actions (CIRCA) administration operations and maintenance + Internal quality auditing » Digital communications + Proficiency testing administration » Cyber Security + NATA Accreditation and ISO Certification administration and coordination + TGA Licensing and Biologicals Finance and Business Services Framework Registration » Business improvement using the Lean 6 » Financial management and accounting Sigma methodology » Procurement advice » VIFM External Source Complaints » Financial compliance monitoring Program administration » Key performance indicator monitoring » Internal investigation of quality issues » Purchasing and supplies management » Oversight of risk management » Building and facility management Legal, Governance and Policy Human Resources and Development » Recruitment and selection » Governance support for the VIFM Council » Payroll, remuneration and benefits and Committees » Employee learning and development » Statutory interpretation and legal advice » Performance management » Policy development » Employee relations » Research governance support » HR / advice » Strategic and business planning » Industrial relations leadership and support » Occupational health and safety » Contract management » Employee wellbeing and support » Privacy and data protection » Leave management » Compliance monitoring 9 The Chairman’s Perspective The Hon. John Coldrey AM QC Serving our community there are 12.8 FTE (full time equivalent) one’s body to family and friends will of them serving the Victorian public at exacerbate their emotional trauma. The emotional trauma caused by this Institute. the death of a loved-one cannot be How to address this problem? overstated. When that death is the It takes 12 years to qualify as a forensic pathologist. There are approximately 69 unexpected result of violence, accident, Firstly, there is a need for extra of these specialists in Australia. suicide, drug overdose or the lethal pathologists and mortuary technicians. result of a pandemic, that emotional The Attorney-General, the Hon. The task they perform is exacting, trauma is amplified. Jill Hennessy, has recognised this complex and often emotionally charged. imperative (in July 2020) to immediately Its aftermath may involve discussions The impact of such a death, spreads recruit two forensic pathologists and five with grieving relatives and the stress outwards in a ripple effect to encompass mortuary technicians. friends and colleagues of the deceased. of a court appearance as an expert witness in a Supreme Court murder The VIFM is extremely grateful for the trial or a coronial inquest. Additionally, In the past 12 months the Victorian Attorney-General’s