The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine is Australia’s most comprehensive forensic medical facility. We serve the Victorian community and the whole of the Victorian justice system, especially the courts.

We provide the justice system with evidence to underpin safe convictions and appropriate acquittals. Our doctors help investigate deaths reported to the Coroner, examine alleged offenders and assess, treat and support victims of crime.

The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria supports patients and their families by providing safe tissues for transplantation and medical research.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

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.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit vifm.org/about-us/careers/

If a career that can give you the opportunity to contribute to a safe and just Victoria appeals to you, we look forward to hearing from you.

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.

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

This position sits within Forensic Services which includes the departments of Forensic Pathology, Forensic Sciences and Clinical Forensic Medicine. Forensic Science encompasses Toxicology, Molecular Biology and Histology, and support VIFM's vision with providing a core forensic toxicology service to the State of Victoria in relation to deaths reported to the coroner and Victoria Police.

About the Role

The Scientist, Toxicology performs toxicology for both Coronial cases and Victoria Police cases submitted to the laboratory for testing.

The Toxicology department is responsible for all medico-legal toxicology testing in Victoria (Coroners Court of Victoria & Victoria Police), relating to deaths occurring suddenly or unexpectedly and include motor vehicle and industrial accidents, suicides and suspicious deaths involving a criminal matter. The provision of service to Victoria Police includes analysis for drug impaired drivers, drug facilitated crime cases and random roadside drug testing.

About You

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and practical experience, acquired over time in an appropriate scientific discipline, to achieve agreed outcomes in the investigation of individual cases and projects in a forensic science environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of techniques used in clinical or analytical chemistry
• Demonstrated knowledge of good laboratory practice, and OH&S issues related to laboratory, scientific or medical environments
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team of professionals to achieve outputs and agreed deliverables
• Demonstrated organisational skills and the ability to multi-task and handle multiple demands
• Demonstrated ability to produce accurate work, with attention to detail

Desirable Requirements:

• Approved analyst under Section 57 of the Road Safety Act for the analysis of alcohol and drugs in blood, urine, and oral fluid (or the ability to attain an approved analyst status).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in science, or equivalent, relevant to toxicology
• Membership of one or more relevant professional associations, e.g. the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, Australian and New Zealand Society of Forensic Scientists, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Australasian Society of Clinical and experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists.

How to Apply