Forensic Nurse Examiner

Forensic Nurse Examiner, Regional - Casual (Multiple Positions)

Location: Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Horsham, Mildura, Warrnambool, Wodonga/Wangaratta

Work Type: Casual

Are you passionate about community engagement and making a difference? Join the Clinical Forensic Medicine team at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) and make a difference.

• Thrive in a dynamic environment with great training opportunities.
• Join a team dedicated to excellence and compassionate care
• An exciting opportunity to work at VIFM

We provide the justice system with quality driven, independent forensic medical and scientific services, delivering crucial evidence that underpins safe convictions and appropriate acquittals. Our doctors, scientists and nurses investigate deaths reported to the coroner, examine alleged offenders, and medically assess and support victims of crime. They are supported by the essential work of our technical specialists and corporate staff who enable these services to operate effectively.

Our medical, scientific, and professional workforce is also engaged in research and education that benefits public health and safety and supports the effective functioning of the legal system.

The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria supports patients and their families by providing safe tissues to medical specialists and Victorian hospitals for transplantation and medical research, benefiting many patients each year.

Our work is underpinned by the VIFM's values of respect, openness, service, integrity and innovation, which guide how we work with the community, the justice system and each other.

About the Role

Forensic Nurse Examiners will work in close collaboration with a range of health care and social welfare service providers to facilitate the delivery of care services by these agencies and organisations. The primary focus of this position is to provide acute forensic examinations of adult victims of both sexual and physical assault as part of an on-call/ standby roster, 7 days a week service.

The role involves service provision at a variety of sites across regional Victoria. Sites include but are not limited to; Multi-Disciplinary Centres (MDCs), Crisis Care Units, hospitals, Police Stations, and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Forensic Nurse Examiners work autonomously, supported by senior clinical staff, in the community in the provision of these services for the Institute.

These positions are for the delivery of services within identified rural and regional areas of Victoria. Forensic Nurse Examiners will be recruited in areas of need, and the candidates will need to live/ work locally in one of the following areas:

• Bairnsdale
• Ballarat
• Horsham
• Mildura
• Warrnambool
• Wodonga/Wangaratta

Please nominate your preferred location in your cover letter.

About You

You are a compassionate and dedicated registered nurse with minimum 5 years of post-grad experience preferably in ED/ Critical Care, midwifery or sexual health who thrives in collaborative, community-minded, and patient-centric environments. Sound written verbal communication skills, with the ability to learn to prepare and present objective, impartial statements, and provide evidence in Court with high attention to detail, Stakeholder management and strong interpersonal skills.

Key Qualification and Attributes

• Minimum of 5 years postgraduate experience in a specific area of nursing complimentary to the work of a forensic nurse examiner e.g., Emergency Medicine, Custodial Health, Mental Health, Critical Care, Drug Health, Sexual Health.
• Current full general registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Key Responsibilities

• Examination of complainants, detainees and adults alleged to have been a victim or an offender of an assault and provide documentation of injuries verbally, on body diagrams and with photographs.
• Provides advice to police, hospital clinical staff, CASA workers
• Preparation and presentation to the courts on evidence derived from examination.
• Bio-specimen collection - collect relevant forensic specimens from complainants and detainees including intimate samples and decrease risk for potential contamination of samples
• Traffic Medicine Services - Taking blood or urine samples from drivers under the Road Safety Act.
• Participate in the provision of mobile forensic medical services on an on-call/ stand by roster.
• Work cohesively with external stakeholders such as Victoria Police, Sexual Assault Services Victoria and the Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs), including but not limited to, facilitating and contributing to joint case reviews, supporting victim-centric service delivery, and enabling a coordinated approach to preventing sexual offending.

What we offer

Working at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) will give you rewarding experiences and the opportunity to do extraordinary work.

Working at VIFM is more than just a job; it's personal. We are dedicated to making a difference and believe in the strength of our diverse team and vibrant culture. Our commitment extends to our people and community, operating responsibly and ethically.

Join us to lead, inspire, and shape the future of forensic medicine in a culture that values creativity, embraces new ideas, and fosters inclusivity and collaboration.

Our Recruitment Process

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependent on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers license checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

If you feel comfortable, please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or require an alternative format to any of the application material upon application, so we can make any adjustments required to support you throughout our recruitment process.

How to apply

Please submit a statement addressing the following questions as part of the Key Selection Criteria, along with your cover letter and resume:

• What has motivated you to apply for this position?
• What interests you in Forensics and working for the VIFM?
• • Please summarize your recent experience relevant to the position.
  • Do you have experience with report writing and/or attending court?
  • Are you able to participate in an on-call roster 8am - 8pm on any days of the week?
  • Do you currently hold unrestricted General registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with AHPRA?

Our Careers Page provides information on the full position description including selection criteria https://www.vifm.org/careers/.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.