About us

The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) is an independent statutory authority governed by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985. It is part of the Justice portfolio of the Victorian Government. 

The work of the VIFM can be described as a cycle of three parts:

• Providing forensic medical & scientific services and tissue banking
• Learning from this work
• Researching and teaching.

The Director of the Institute holds the Chair of the Forensic Medicine at Monash University and the VIFM also operates as the Department of Forensic Medicine at Monash University.

VIFM is based at the Coronial Services Centre which also houses the Coroners Court of Victoria. 

This position is within the Forensic Services Division, which includes the departments of Forensic Pathology, Forensic Sciences and Clinical Forensic Medicine. Forensic Pathology encompasses Human Identification, Forensic Technical Services and Coronial Admissions and Enquiries.

Coronial Admissions and Enquiries (CAE) is the first point of contact with respect to deaths reportable to the Coroner and coordinates the initial phase of the coroner's investigation into deaths and fires.

Forensic Technical Services provides all services related to the mortuary including the management of admission, storage, medical imaging, medico-legal investigations and release of deceased persons.

About the role

Reporting to the Assistant Manager, Forensic Technical Services this role will be part of a multidisciplinary team providing 24/7 support for the Coroners and VIFM Pathologists conducting medico-legal death investigations.

The role will provide services in the mortuary including the admission, storage, medical imaging, and release of deceased persons. The role will also include assisting with autopsies, tissue bank retrieval, and maintenance of equipment and stores. This role involves regular exposure to deceased persons including varying state of decomposition and/or trauma, and/or afflicted with infectious diseases and/or paediatric.

The person selected for this role will adapt quickly and easily to changing priorities, and will be expected to exercise the highest level of professionalism (including confidentiality), commit to providing a high quality service and adhere to VIFM's core values of Respect, Openness, Service, Integrity and Innovation.

About you

As our ideal candidate you will possess:

• Demonstrate resilience, adopting self-care strategies and commitment in managing multiple competing prioritise in a complex and challenging work environment
• Demonstrate ability to learn complex tasks in a timely manner
• Sound knowledge of anatomy
  • Sound knowledge of OH&S issues related to a scientific or medical field.
  • Sound interpersonal and problem-solving skills and the demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation.
  • Highly committed to providing quality service delivery, with integrity and fairness.
  • Ability to be flexible and adaptable and maintain composure under pressure.
• Proven ability to act with professionalism and maintain confidentiality

Desirable Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in the health science or equivalent is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated completion (or progress towards) immunisation for COVID-19, Hepatitis B and participation in ongoing vaccination programs

Shift / On call / Weekend requirements

• Capability to work shift work on a rotating 24/7 roster
• Participation in a rotating on-call roster, and associated travel in accordance with service demands of the role
• Holder of a current driver's licence.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement.

In accordance with the Jobs and Skills Exchange Recruitment Policy, only Victorian Public Service employees are eligible to apply for this position. People on labour hire contracts, such as agency staff and contractors, are not eligible to apply.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).

Therefore, there is a requirement that all DJCS employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to undertake duties outside of their homes.

Prior to commencement of employment with the department you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19. Acceptable evidence includes:

1. COVID-19 digital certificate (available via your myGov account)
2. Your immunisation history statement (available via your myGov account) or
3. A letter from the GP who vaccinated you.