THE
FORENSIC
EXHIBIT
ANZFE
Australia New
Zealand ADVIC
CWALN Biology Chemical
Criminalistics Crime Scene
Ballistics Document Examination
Electronic Evidence Fingerprints Illicit
Drugs Medical Sciences Toxicology Standards
Coordination Innovation Quality Information
Management Education Training After the Fact Certification
Peak Body DNA Analysis Facial Identification Speaker Recognition
Fire Debris and Explosives Geological Materials Friction Ridge Firearms
Toolmarks Tyre & Shoemark Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Odontology
Anthropology Digital Evidence Audio Visual Computer Forensics Digital Imaging
Entomology Mortuary Statistics MPS YSTR Forecasting Emerging Challenges Informing
Best Practice Opportunities to Collaborate and Leverage Resources Discipline Specific
Technical Advice Capability Development Inform Strategic Policy Support Research Information
Exchange Promote and Facilitate Excellence in Forensic Science ANZFEC Australia New Zealand ADVIC
CWALN Biology Chemical Criminalistics Crime Scene Ballistics Document Examination Electronic Evidence
Fingerprints Illicit Drugs Medical Sciences Toxicology Standards Coordination Innovation Quality Information
Management Education Training After the Fact Certification Peak Body DNA Analysis Facial Identification Speaker
Recognition Fire Debris and Explosives Geological Materials Friction Ridge Firearms Toolmarks Tyre & Shoemark Bloodstain
Volume 1
Issue 2
1
July 2018
April
Shining a spotlight on the work of the Australia New Zealand forensic science community
Your Mid-Year Review
In this issue:
News from the forensic
News
from the forensic
community
community
2
2
Updates from:
Updates
• Inauguralfrom:
Police Conference, Innovative Policing:
Dean
Dr
Linzi
Catoggio
Wilson-Wilde OAM
Director,Manager,
General
ANZPAA ANZPAA
NIFS
NIFS
As the team readies itself
to commence a variety of
new projects, we would like
to thank all ANZPAA NIFS
stakeholders and partners for
supporting us to succesfully
deliver our 2017-18 Business
Plan.
Over the next few issues of The Forensic
Exhibit you will be welcomed each time by
a different member of the ANZPAA NIFS
team. It’s my turn for this edition and I look
forward to sharing with you some of the
teams recent cross-jurisidictional projects
and activities.
SMANZFL Developing Future Forensic
Leaders Workshop
In May we ran the inaugral SMANZFL
Developing Future Forensic Leaders
Workshop. The workshop was very well
attended with 27 representatives from 18
different agencies across Australia and New
Zealand. The purpose of the workshop
was to bring together participants from
Australia and New Zealand forensic science
laboratories to explore leadership in the
context of law enforcement and forensic
science. In this issue you will hear from
Jane Devenish-Meares (Forensic Science
Service Tasmania) who kindly volunteered
to share the insights she gained from
attending the workshop, which included
guest presentations from Victoria Police
Acting Chief Commissioner Wendy
Steendam and Mr Colin Priddis, Director of
ChemCentre WA.
Introduction to Evaluative Reporting In
Forensic Science Workshop
Last year we published the “Introductory
guide to evaluative reporting” on our
website and we are very grateful to the
co-authors for delivering a follow-up crossdiscipline workshop in June this year. The
workshop was aimed at providing forensic
practitioners, managers and trainers with
an introduction to evaluative reporting,
which is a formalised thought process that
enables the evaluation of scientific findings
given two propositions. Twenty eight
representatives attended the workshop
including Matthew Bolton (NSW Police),
who kindly prepared an overview of the
workshop for this issue of The Forensic
Exhibit.
Best Paper Awards
The 30 September closing date for the
ANZAAP NIFS Best Paper Awards is
approaching! We encourage authors and
co-authors from Australia and New Zealand
government forensic labortories to submit
their peer reviewed published papers now.
Information about the submission process,
best paper categories and conditions of
entry are provided later in this issue.
New Projects!
The ANZPAA NIFS team are excited about
our approved new projects to be launched
in the new financial year. The projects
include: Model Framework for Double
Blind Prociency Testing, Peer Review in
Forensic Science, and Process Mapping
and Identifying Best Practice in Fingerprints
and Illicit Drug Analysis, just to name a few.
New projects commencing this calander
year are outlined in this issue and we are
very eager to start them!
Future
Challenges
• Anticipating
A
ustralia New
Zealand
Forensic
• R
esearch
and
Innovation
Advisory
Committee
Executive Committee
(ANZFEC)
•• C
ongratulations
Superintendent
Frieberg
and
A
ustralian Academy of
Superintendent Hatch
Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
• Australia Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) • Research
AAFS Victorian
Chapter
Fellowship Applications
•• UA
pdate
ustralia
New
Zealand
Forensic
from the Australian and
New Zealand
ScienceScience
Society
(ANZFSS)
Forensic
Society
(ANZFSS)
ustralia New Zealand Forensic Executive
•• AI an
Riebeling New Practitioner
Committee (ANZFEC) Update
Workshop
• ANZPAA NIFS Best Paper Awards
•• IR
anelocation
of the
Editorial
Office
Riebeling New
Practitioner
Workshop
Forensic
Science
Medicineof Forensic
• Sof
urvey
on Intelligence
Implications
andPhenotyping
Pathology
DNA
•C
ertificate of Appreciation
Forensic
project update
– Peter Hatch
5
Updates provided on all of ANZPAA NIFS current
and new projects including:
•Forensic
Forensic Fundamentals
- Phase 2
project update
4
• Forensic Standard Development
Explanatory text such as: “Everything
• Environment Scan (E-Scan)
you need to know about our new and
•current
ANZPAAprojects.”
NIFS Groups Review
• Double Blind Proficiency Testing
• Best Practice Guideline for Crime Scene Managers
and
workshops
•Meetings
Peer Review in
Forensic
Science
7
•Reports
Process Mapping
from: and Identifying Best Practice Fingerprint and Drug Analysis
• The Impression, Pattern and Trace
• AFFSAB Review Implementation Project
Evidence Symposium 2018
•Meetings
Unfamiliarand
Faceworkshops
Identification
9
Group Conference
Reports from:
• SOFT / TIAFT Conference
• SMANZFL Developing Future Forensic Leaders
• Workshop
Clandestine Laboratory Advanced
Practitioners Workshop
• ANZPAA Disaster Victim Identification (ADVIC)
Commanders Course
• Forces of Change - Defining the Future Justice
Events
calendar
11
Conference
•“A
Training
Methodology
Forensic
Audio and
summary
of this for
years
key events.”
Video Examiners Practitioners Workshop
• Introduction to Evaluative Reporting in Forensic
Next
issue
Science
Contact us
Events calendar
12
14
Overview of upcoming national and international
forensic science meetings and events.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
1
The Forensic Exhibit
News from the forensic community
Inaugural Police Conference, Innovative Policing: Anticipating Future Challenges
The inaugural Police Conference, themed
Innovative Policing: Anticipating Future
Challenges, was held in Melbourne on 2
and 3 May 2018 in conjunction with the
Civil Security (CIVSEC) Congress and
Exposition. The conference, hosted by
the Australia and New Zealand Police
Commissioners and facilitated by ANZPAA,
brought together approximately 120 of the
most influential strategic thinkers in law
enforcement and security to discuss the
future of policing – anticipating challenges,
exploring opportunities for capability
innovations and considering how a
dynamic society will influence policing.
The conference broached a wide
range of topics including social media,
emerging drug and alcohol issues, big
data, demography and technology
predominantly from a policing perspective,
but also provided insight into the
challenges and impact on the forensic
landscape in Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Director NIFS,
provided an informative overview of the
current and future state of Predictive
DNA, stimulating discussions about the
potential use of the technology for criminal
investigations and highlighting how
advancements in technology can impact
both policing and forensic operations and
capabilities.
Dion Sheppard (Institute of Environmental Science and Research) with a little help from Robert
Morgan (ANZPAA NIFS) demonstrates ESR’s innovative use of virtual reality in crime scene
investigation training.
‘Data is the
new oil, it now
drives more
global economic
growth than
trade.’
Dr Angus Harvey and
Tanè Hunter of Future
Crunch, speakers
at PC18.
Sessions from PC18.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
2
The Forensic Exhibit
News from the forensic community
Research and Innovation
Advisory Committee
Membership for the Research and
Innovation Advisory Committee (RIAC) has
now been finalised and the first meeting
has been scheduled for 27 September
2018. At this meeting, members will
review the ANZPAA NIFS Research and
Innovation Strategy, as well as the priority
areas included in the Roadmap, in light
of emerging issues affecting forensic
science service provision. The Annual list
of Research Questions Document will
also be reviewed to identify new project
questions and remove from the list those
that have been addressed or are no
longer required. Opportunities to enact the
Roadmap, including availability of resources
and expertise will also be discussed. It is
anticipated that a more focused annual
projects list will be generated and made
available for forensic science service
providers and academic institutions to
consider later in the year.
Congratulations
Superintendent Frieberg
& Superintendent Hatch
We would like to congratulate
Superintendent Dale Frieberg and
Superintendent Peter Hatch on each
receiving an Australian Police Medal
(APM) as part of the Queen’s Birthday
2018 honours list on Monday 11 June
2018. The accolades are well deserved
with both Dale and Peter having made
significant contributions to the Policing
and Forensic communities, residing
on the Australia New Zealand Forensic
Executive Committee (ANZFEC),
during their careers.
Australian Academy of
Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
-Research Fellowship
Applications
Mehera San Roque
Council Member, AAFS
Applications are now open for the
Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences
2018 - 2019 Research Fellowship
(supported by the Oscar Rivers
Schmalzbach Foundation).
The Fellowship supports the broader
objectives of the Academy, which are to:
• encourage the study, improve the practice
and advance the knowledge of the
forensic sciences; and
• generally do all things as may be
calculated to widen, improve and develop
the education and knowledge both of
those actively concerned in the pursuit of
the forensic sciences, and of the public.
The Fellowship is valued at up to $15,000.
Applications are now invited for this
prestigious fellowship, for projects and/or
activities that will contribute to the broader
aims of the Academy. Relevant projects
or activities may include direct support for
specific research resulting in a publication,
or contributing to support for travel and
other costs associated with a defined
research output. All applicants must
clearly demonstrate how their proposal
will achieve the objects of the Academy.
The closing date for applications is 30
September 2018.
How to apply:
For further information and for the
2018 -19 AAFS Research Fellowship
Application Forms, please contact
Mehera San Roque.
m.sanroque@unsw.edu.au
Update from the Australian
and New Zealand Forensic
Science Society (ANZFSS)
Adrian Linacre
National President, ANZFSS
At this time of year for our members there
are possibly two society-based matters
on the horizon: renew membership and
prepare for the symposium. Thank you
to all who have just renewed. We have
kept the membership fees the same for
a number of years now, but I am always
conscious of ensuring that all receive the
benefits of being a member.
In this regard, I remind myself of the
mission statement of the society. There are
actually four points and point 2 relates to
the interchange of ideas and information.
Point 3 relates to meeting objective 2
through lectures, meetings, as well as
publications. In this regard it is often the
public talks and presentations put on at
branch level that meets this objective of
the ANZFSS. I am very mindful that it is to
these branch meetings that many members
attend and with no wish or reason to attend
our symposium. It is therefore essential
for the well-being of the society that these
talks and presentations are of the highest
quality.
One new concept from the Executive
and Council is that funds are set aside
to allow branches to attract speakers
from one branch to another and facilitate
an interchange of ideas. The original
concept was to support the movement
of international speakers when attending
one branch to also visit others, but the two
recent applications for this support were
actually to part-fund a speaker to travel
from one state to another. I am supportive
of this if the public meetings meet our
mission statement and is very much part
of the reason why the ANZFSS exists and
continues to attract new members.
In this light, I will be attending one such
speaker-supported meeting at my own
branch and very much hope that all
members are educated (and potentially
entertained) at meetings of their own
branches and enjoy being members of the
ANZFSS.
Link to ANZFSS symposium website:
http://www.anzfss2018.com/
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
3
The Forensic Exhibit
News from the forensic community
Australia New Zealand Forensic Executive Committee
(ANZFEC) Update
The Australia New Zealand Forensic Executive Committee (ANZFEC) met on 17 May
2018. The ANZPAA NIFS Groups Review, AFFSAB Review Implementation, Forensic
Fundamentals, Parabon® and the ANZPAA NIFS 2018 – 2019 Business Plan made for a
substantial agenda.
2018 – 2019 Business Plan
The ANZPAA NIFS Business Plan (The Plan) for the 2018 – 2019 financial year was
approved by ANZFEC and has since been presented to the ANZPAA Board for noting
(June 2018). Approval of The Plan and the beginning of a new financial year, sets in motion
the start of a number of new projects for ANZPAA NIFS, in conjunction with the Australia
New Zealand forensic community. These include:
17 May 2018 – ANZFEC Meeting 9 in full swing.
• Peer Review in Forensic Science
• Model Framework for Double Blind Proficiency Testing in Forensic Science
• Process Mapping and Identifying Best Practice in the Forensic Process – Fingerprint
Analysis
• Process Mapping and Identifying Best Practice in the Forensic Process – Drug Analysis
• Best Practice Guideline for Crime Scene Managers
• Transition of Technology from the Laboratory to the Field.
An update on all the projects and activities approved will be provided in the next edition of
The Forensic Exhibit.
The
business plan will be available on our website in August
Ian Riebling
New Practitioner
Workshop
Dates:
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September
2018
Registration Fee:*
$150 for students and $200 for
practitioners
Location:
Cliftons Perth, Parmelia House, 191
Georges Terrace, Perth
ANZPAA NIFS Best Paper
Awards
Survey on Intelligence
Implications of Forensic DNA
Phenotyping
The ANZPAA NIFS Best Paper Awards
are now open. This year the application
process has been simplified – the
application form and one copy
of the entry should be emailed to
secretariat.nifs@anzpaa.org.au before
28 September 2018. For further
information on the awards available
and the criteria for acceptance please
visit
To participate, and for a chance to win
one of two Amazon gift vouchers, please
visit:
https://bit.ly/2LcZ2A8
https://www.anzpaa.org.au/forensicscience/our-work/awards/best-paper
Registrations for the Ian
Riebeling New Practitioner
Workshop are open. To register,
head to:
https://eecw.eventsair.com/anzffs18/
anzpaawrkshp/Site/Register
*The fee includes a social dinner on Saturday 8
September 2018.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
4
The Forensic Exhibit
Forensic project update
In brief:
Forensic
Fundamentals Phase 2
New
Overview
The aim of the Forensic Fundamentals
project is to identify the underpinning
science and validation requirements for
forensic science disciplines. This project
represents a long term activity for ANZPAA
NIFS and will see a gap analysis performed
for multiple forensic science disciplines.
These gap analyses will inform ongoing
updates to the Research and Innovation
Roadmap Annual Project Questions
document.
Empirical Study Guideline
The first version of the empirical study
guideline has been developed by the
working group and was approved at
ANZFEC 9. This document will be used
on a trial basis over the coming months in
order to obtain feedback from practitioners,
before an updated version is made
available on the ANZPAA NIFS website.
The international forensic community
has also been consulted throughout
the development of this document, with
similar work being performed by numerous
agencies.
Gap Analysis
The next round of gap analyses will
commence in July, with subject matter
experts and working group participants
from fingerprints, ballistics and explosives
and post-blast residue analysis to be
identified. Any potential projects that arise
from the gap analyses will be incorporated
into the Research and Innovation
Roadmap, which can be accessed via the
following link:
http://www.anzpaa.org.au/forensic-science/our
work/projects/research-and-innovation-project
Forensic Standard
Development
Update
The ISO TC272 committee recently met
in Stockholm, Sweden 28 May to 1 June
2018.
The committee considered the country
member comments on the following four
standards:
• ISO/WD 21043-3 – Forensic Sciences –
Analysis
• ISO/WD 21043-4 – Forensic Sciences –
Interpretation
• ISO/WD 21043-5 – Forensic Sciences –
Reporting
• ISO/WD 20964 - Specification for
consumables used in the collection,
preservation and processing of material
for forensic analysis for product,
manufacturing requirements and forensic
kit assembly.
Members agreed to focus the
manufacturing standard (ISO/WD 20964) to
critical consumables where contamination
of those consumables may adversely
affect the forensic result. Committee
members were requested to consult with
country mirror committees to provide
information to determine consumables
that should be included. Adam Dale (USA)
is the Working Group Chair and editor of
this standard. The Working Group for this
standard is also seeking additional country
experts to participate in the development
of the standard and group deliberations.
Interested experts from Australia should
contact Standards Australia.
Interpretation standard, joining Charles
Berger (Netherlands) as the current coeditor. Didier Meuwly (Netherlands) is the
editor for the Analysis standard. These
standards are being developed under
Working Group 4, Chaired by Michel
Smithuis (Netherlands).
The committee worked through all
comments received for the Reporting
standard (ISO/WD 21043-5), being
developed under Working Group 5. David
Neville (Australia) is the editor and Chair.
All standards will be undated following
deliberations at the meeting and then will
be sent for country member comments at
the Working draft phase. The next meeting
of TC272 will be held in Mexico City,
Mexico 19-23 November 2018.
Environment Scan
(E-Scan)
Update
Overview
ANZPAA NIFS has applied a forensic focus
to the ANZPAA quarterly environment
scanning process (E-Scan). The E-Scans
are an important tool in stimulating
discussions and forecasting future work at
the ANZPAA Board meetings. Elliot Cottrill
(Western Australia Police), completed
a review of the content of the current
ANZPAA E-Scans and conducted further
research to identify potential impacts for
forensic science.
We would like to thank Elliot for his work at
ANZPAA NIFS and for delivering the first of
the Forensic E-Scan series.
There were a large number of comments
received for the Analysis (ISO/WD 210433) and Interpretation (ISO/WD 21043-4),
therefore the Committee focused much
of the discussion on the general structure
and content of the standards. Both
standards will now undergo a considerable
rewrite to align the documents to the
revised structures. Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde
was nominated as a co-editor of the
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
5
The Forensic Exhibit
Forensic project update – continued
In focus:
Update
ANZPAA NIFS Groups Review
Following the transfer of the
Specialist Advisory Groups (SAGs) to
ANZPAA NIFS management, with
reporting to Australia New Zealand
Forensic Executive Committee
(ANZFEC), a review of all ANZPAA
NIFS Groups was launched at the
Joint SAG meeting (9 August 2017).
ANZPAA NIFS Group Roles
We would like to thank the current ANZPAA
NIFS Groups Chairs for their input and
feedback in developing the roles presented
below which were approved by ANZFEC in
May 2018.
Final Phase
The ANZPAA NIFS Groups Review has
entered the final phase. ANZPAA NIFS are
busy developing options for the ANZPAA
NIFS Groups Structure and drafting a
Terms of Reference. Engagement with the
forensic science community will continue
over the coming months to ensure that the
ANZPAA NIFS Groups are fit for purpose
and can continue to develop forensic
science disciplines across Australia and
New Zealand.
ANZPAA NIFS Groups Roles
Co-ordination
• Provide specialist advice regarding technical issues, emerging challenges and capability development.
• Identify agreed best practice and promote cross-jurisdictional standardisation.
• Collaborate in initiatives to improve forensic science capabilities.
Research and Innovation
• Identify and prioritise trends, research and innovation needs and new technology to inform projects and
initiatives.
• Participate in research projects and initiatives.
Information Exchange
• Share and exchange information to reduce duplication and leverage resources across jurisdictions.
• Communicate the activities of the Group to ANZPAA NIFS and ANZFEC through quarterly reporting.
• R
epresent the Australia New Zealand forensic science community at national and international meetings and
groups and liaise and communicate between the groups.
• Liaise with equivalent international groups.
Education and Training
• Identify and prioritise opportunities for cross agency and cross discipline training workshops and co-ordinate
applications to ANZPAA NIFS.
• Co-ordinate and run cross agency workshops.
Quality
• Identify cross agency discipline specific or general quality issues and initiatives to promote continuous
improvement and recommend actions to address the issues.
• Action approved recommendations that address quality assurance issues.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
6
The Forensic Exhibit
Forensic project update – continued
In focus:
Double Blind
Proficiency Testing
New
Overview
The aim of this project is develop an
Australia New Zealand model framework
for double blind proficiency testing in
forensic science. In double blind proficiency
testing, examiners are not aware that test
samples have been introduced into the flow
of casework. The key benefit of this is that
it is likely to give a more accurate indication
of a laboratory’s performance in conducting
casework.
A working group will be established in the
first quarter of the new financial year to
develop the model framework taking into
consideration matters such as terminology,
sample preparation, logistics, legislation
and international best practice. It is hoped
the framework will promote consistent
design and a framework implementation of
double blind testing for interested forensic
laboratories.
Best Practice
Guideline for Crime
Scene Managers
New
Overview
The aim of this project is to develop a
best practice guideline for crime scene
managers that allows for a crossdiscipline approach for the collection and
management of forensic evidence for both
intelligence and evidentiary purposes. The
need for this project arose from discussions
at the 2016 Australasian Forensic Science
Summit, in relation to the future roles of
crime scene managers.
Commencing in July, this project will
involve a review of current practices in
place in both Australia and New Zealand,
as well as overseas. It is anticipated that
this project will also explore the roles of the
Co-ordinator and the Generalist, in best
practice crime scene management.
Process Mapping
and Identifying Best
Practice – Fingerprint
and Drug Analysis
Deliverables
New
The concept of broad scale mapping of the
forensic process to identify best practice
was raised at the Australasian Forensic
Science Summit 2016 following the success
of the End-to-End (E2E) projects Phase 1
and 2 and the tangible benefits to process
improvements gained.
The ‘Process Mapping and Identifying
Best Practice in the Forensic Process –
Fingerprint Analysis’ and ‘Process Mapping
and Identifying Best Practice in the Forensic
Process – Drug Analysis’ projects, developed
by ANZPAA NIFS with feedback from the
Fingerprints and Illicit Drugs Specialist
Advisory Group (SAG) Chairs, were approved
by ANZFEC in May 2018 and have received
support from the ANZPAA Board. It is
anticipated these projects will run over two
years, commencing July 2018.
Mandate
The mandate of both the Fingerprint
and Drug analysis projects are to review
and compare jurisdictional processes to
identify best practice and opportunities for
improvement, cost savings and reductions
in turn-around times.
The project has been split into two phases.
In Phase 1, a scoping exercise will be
conducted within each jurisdiction, data
collection points will be identified and a
process mapping framework developed.
Phase 2 will consist of a process mapping
exercise to identify best practice and
opportunities for improvement.
The projects will encompass the analysis
process from point of request, through
collection and analysis, to reporting and
police action/follow up. Jurisdictional
processes will be mapped with the
assistance of discipline experts within
each agency through consultation with the
relevant Specialist Advisory Group (SAG).
A process mapping framework report
detailing the general analysis processes
and identification of data collection
points to be used in Phase 2 will be
developed as the deliverable for Phase 1.
A best practice guideline and individual
jurisdictional reports will be developed for
the completion of Phase 2.
Peer Review in
Forensic Science
New
Overview
The aim of this project is to review the
current processes for peer review of
casefiles and reports in forensic biology
and to develop a best practice risk-based
approach for results that are intended for
both intelligence and evidentiary purposes.
The need for this project arose from
discussions regarding the definition of an
administrative and technical review and
how these can be applied differently in
different scenarios. The issue was raised
for the attention of ANZPAA NIFS in the
Western Australia Ross Report, 2017.
Commencing in July, the project will
involve a review of current practices and
will convene a working group of subject
matters to identify recommendations
for best practice. It is anticipated that
the working group will comprise senior
forensic biologists, quality managers and
representatives from the accreditation
sector.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
7
The Forensic Exhibit
Forensic project update – continued
AFFSAB Review
Implementation Project
Update
Certificate of
Appreciation
AFFSAB Review Implementation Project
Update
The Australasian Forensic Field Sciences
Accreditation Board (AFFSAB) Review
Implementation Project was established in
June 2017 to facilitate the implementation
of recommendations that were developed
as part of a major review of AFFSAB
between June 2016 and March 2017
(AFFSAB Future Directions Project).
The implementation of the approved
recommendations will streamline and
standardise accreditation across the crime
scene investigation, fingerprint investigation
and firearm examination programs.
A meeting of the ANZFEC sub-committee
for the AFFSAB Review Implementation will
be held on 10 August 2018. This meeting
will focus on the review and future direction
of the AFFSAB assessment process.
AFFSAB Board Annual Meeting
The 2018 Annual Meeting of the
Australasian Forensic Field Sciences
Accreditation Board (AFFSAB) was held
in Melbourne on 14 June 2018. As well as
general board duties, Board members were
active in discussions regarding the AFFSAB
Review Implementation project which
resulted in the approval of a new AFFSAB
interim policy, now termed the AFFSAB
Policy and Processes for Certification,
and associated forms. The interim policy
and updated forms will be available on
the ANZPAA NIFS website (http://www.
anzpaa.org.au/forensic-science/resources/
affsab) before the end of July 2018. The
interim policy addresses all of the approved
recommendations from the AFFSAB Future
Directions Review Report, except those
related to the assessment process, with the
following notable changes:
• Addition of a communication strategy
(Recommendation 8)
• Removal of crime scene subdisciplines for the pre-requisite criteria
(Recommendation 11)
• Addition of a process and eligibility criteria
for AFFSAB assessors (Recommendation
9)
AFFSAB and ANZPAA NIFS would like
thank Craig Harris, Brad Mason and Rick
Sinclair for their significant contributions
to AFFSAB. Craig Harris (Crime Scene),
Brad Mason (Crime Scene) and Rick
Sinclair (Fingerprints) have served
on the AFFSAB Board as discipline
representatives, providing discipline
specific advice and informing the future
direction of AFFSAB.
• Addition of an appeals and grievance
policy (Recommendation 10)
• Addition of a five-yearly recertification
process (Recommendation 16)
• Addition of an AFFSAB Code of Ethics
and Professional Conduct.
It is envisaged that this will be the last
interim policy before the final update which
will be disseminated once the review and
update of the assessment processes has
been completed.
Five-yearly recertification
A five-yearly recertification process for
AFFSAB certified practitioners has been in
development for several years. This points
based process is aimed at increasing the
rigour of AFFSAB certification and requires
practitioners to demonstrate currency and
professional development in their discipline.
Brad Mason (left) and Craig Harris (right)
accepting their certificates of appreciation at
the AFFSAB Annual Board Meeting.
The five-yearly recertification process has
now been approved by the AFFSAB Board
and we are now excited to announce the
staggered implementation of the fiveyearly recertification process commencing
with the Firearms and Crime Scene
disciplines on 1 January 2019 (practitioners
certified before 1 January 2014), with the
Fingerprints discipline to commence from 1
January 2020 (practitioners certified before
1 January 2015).
Please keep an eye out for the five-yearly
recertification form in your email inbox
over the next month. We encourage you
to begin filling out the form at your earliest
convenience, even if you are not yet due
for recertification, and continue to update it
over the five-year period.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
8
The Forensic Exhibit
Meetings and workshops
Workshop
Report:
SMANZFL
Developing Future
Forensic Leaders
Workshop
Title:
SMANZFL Developing Future Forensic
Leaders Workshop
Date:
21 to 23 May 2018
Location:
Melbourne, Australia
Jane Devenish-Meares
Forensic Biology, Forensic Science Service
Tasmania
A workshop dedicated to the
training and development of
current and future leaders in
the forensic domain has been
long overdue. The inaugural
SMANZFL Developing Future
Forensic Leaders Workshop
was well attended by agencies
from New Zealand and
Australia and it is hoped this
workshop will be offered on a
regular basis.
The SMANZFL Developing Future Forensic
Leaders Workshop is an initiative strongly
supported by the Australia New Zealand
Forensic Executive Committee (ANZFEC).
Its name recognises the previous efforts
of the former Senior Managers of Australia
New Zealand Forensic Laboratories
(SMANZFL), now amalgamated with
ANZFEC, in developing leaders in forensic
science in Australia and New Zealand.
Representatives from 18 forensic and
policing agencies came together for three
days of facilitated sessions to explore and
pick apart what it means to be a leader in
the realm of policing and forensic science.
The Workshop began with the Ross Vining
Memorial address presented by Acting
Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
Wendy Steendam. She spoke of the close
continuing relationship and reliance police
agencies have with forensic science,
and the increased role of forensics as an
intelligence tool.
Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde, Director NIFS, then
presented an overview of the wider forensic
landscape and identified the multiple
overlapping priorities, interdependencies
and relationships between forensic
organisations and bodies both in Australia
and on the world wide stage. This
emphasised what a massive contribution
Australia and New Zealand makes to
Forensic Science globally.
Colin Priddis, Director of the Forensic
Science Laboratory, ChemCentre WA
spoke about leadership challenges and
opportunities within the context of forensic
laboratory facilities.
Day one involved investigating the
difference between being a manager and
being a leader, and emphasised that you
don’t need to be in charge, you can be a
leader at any level within your organisation.
We learned about the 5 Levels of
Leadership (as defined by John Maxwell). I
found this illuminating as it helped explain
the nuance involved in taking people along
with you on the leadership journey. We
used the DISC Personality Test to identify
the different behavioural styles encountered
at work, and explained how these types
perceive the world.
Day two focused on the importance of
effective communication and decision
making. We discussed different innovative
‘thinking’ concepts such as Edward de
Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats. We explored the
Trust Equation defined by David Maisters,
showing how to influence others and build
authentic trusting relationships with our
co-workers. We looked into identifying
positions and interests and how to use
these in negotiations.
On day three we learnt about effective time
management, project planning and how to
handle difficult management conversations
and situations.
The workshop was extremely informative
and enjoyable, and highlighted how similar
the issues are that we deal with in our
various workplaces. I took away so many
insights and so much useful practical
information, I hope that this workshop
continues to be offered as a training
resource in years to come.
The facilitator for the workshop was
Philippa Taylor from the Ducendi Group.
Through the course of the workshop, she
focused on defining successful leadership,
effective communication and influencing
the people around you. She discussed
decision making in a dynamic environment,
successful planning and project delivery,
as well as handling and managing difficult
situations. I found Philippa to be energetic,
insightful, and very engaging.
Participants engage in a practical exercise at
the inaugural SMANZFL Developing Future
Forensic Leaders Workshop
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
9
The Forensic Exhibit
Meetings and workshops
Course Report:
ANZPAA
Disaster Victim
Identification
(ADVIC)
Commanders
Course
Date:
7 to 10 May 2018
Location:
Adelaide, Australia
Rod Anderson
ADVIC Chair
Between 7-10 May 2018, the ANZPAA
Disaster Victim Identification Committee
(ADVIC) DVI Commanders Workshop was
held in Adelaide, South Australia. In the
past, ADVIC has conducted a number of
DVI Commander and Coordinator Courses
depending on the status of the DVI cohort
across all jurisdictions. This ensures our
ADVIC Mission is continued.
Central to this mission is to prepare current
and future DVI Commanders for the role
and to enhance our DVI response to
mass fatality incidents through a better
understanding of the DVI Commander’s
leadership roles and responsibilities.
Participants were drawn from all Australian
and New Zealand Police Forces as well
as from the Australian Defence Force
Investigative Service, Forensic Specialist
and a representative from Hong Kong
Police.
“I’d like to acknowledge and
thank South Australia Police for
hosting the workshop which
provided a unique learning
opportunity for current and
future DVI Commanders.”
Guest presenters included Detective
Inspector John Simm OBE from the UK
Metropolitan Police Courter Terrorism
Command, who provided insight into some
of the challenging operations involving DVI
he has encountered during his policing
career.
Further, all participants bought their own
valuable experiences, be it in policing
or Forensics disciplines, to this learning
environment, regardless of any DVI
specific background. They were all
strongly encouraged to engage with other
participants throughout the Workshop and
share their views, ideas and experiences.
In this way, all participants benefited as a
group and added value to their respective
agencies.
A significant amount of work by many
individuals went into the co-ordination
of this workshop, particularly when
you consider the variety of jurisdictions
and agencies represented and the coordination required. This multi-jurisdictional,
multi-agency approach provided great
opportunities for participants to learn and
network with others.
S/Sgt Anderson
ADVIC Mission: To enhance
the regional Disaster Victim
Identification capacity,
through the collaborative
development of adaptive
procedures and protocols.
The workshop comprised a combination
of presentations, in the form of Case
Studies, as well as syndicate exercises and
discussions on key strategic command
issues. Participants’ learning was enhanced
by the shared knowledge and experiences
of the guest presenters and the Syndicate
Mentors, all of whom have considerable
experience in DVI operations.
Participants pondering over Excercise
‘ODIN.’
Attendees at the 2018 DVI Commanders Workshop.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
10
The Forensic Exhibit
Meetings and workshops
Conference
Report:
Forces of Change
- Defining
Future Justice
Conference
Date:
25 to 26 May 2018
Location:
Brisbane, Australia
On 25 and 26 May, the
Australian Institute of Judicial
Administration hosted the
Forces of Change – Defining
Future Justice conference
at the Stamford Plaza in
Brisbane. In attendance were
senior barristers, judicial
officers and judges. Given
the future focus of the
conference, ANZPAA NIFS
were invited to attend and
discuss future developments
in forensic science.
The program commenced with a Stateof-the-World report from 2050 by Mark
Pesce, a futurist, author and inventor, who
set the scene for what challenges the
judicial system may face in the coming
years. The Right Honorable Lord Thomas of
Cwmgiedd then spoke of the experiences
in technology development and
introduction in both England and Wales.
The program continued with a number of
panel discussions, focusing on the issues
raised by the key note speakers, as well as
the use of artificial intelligence in the legal
profession, the use of audio visual links in
court rooms and how substantive law can
be disrupted by new technologies.
using the Lindt café case and the work
performed by New South Wales Police as
an example of how technology can assist
in the court in better understanding a
sequence of events. Robert spoke about
the developing area of predictive DNA
and how this technology can be used to
support police investigations. A number of
other topics were discussed throughout
the question and answer session, including
the underpinning science requirements
for forensic methods and opinions, the
demonstration of expertise of forensic
practitioners and the impact of forensic
technology developments on the judicial
system.
Day two commenced with a discussion on
mental health for those working in Courts
and Tribunals, followed by the impact of
technology on the rule of law. The future
forensic developments panel included Dean
Catoggio and Robert Morgan from ANZPAA
NIFS, as well as the Honorable Helen
Murrell, Chief Justice of the Australian
Capital Territory, and the Honorable Chris
Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia.
Dean spoke about the use of virtual
reality for crime scene reconstruction,
The final sessions included discussions
about the future of the legal profession
and how to best manage the changing
environment. This conference provided an
excellent opportunity to update the judicial
sector on the work being performed by the
forensic science community in Australia
and New Zealand, as well as to hear about
the challenges to be addressed in the
courtroom of the future.
Dean Catoggio and Robert Morgan, ANZPAA NIFS, participating in the Forces of Change –
Defining Future Justice Conference panel discussion.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
11
The Forensic Exhibit
Meetings and workshops
Report:
Training
Methodology
for Forensic
Audio and Video
Examiners
Date:
June 2018
Location:
Canberra, Australia
Jason Hutcheon
Chair, Audio Video Scientific Working
Group, Electronic Evidence Specialist
Advisory Group
In June, the Audio Video Scientific
Working Group (AVSWG) met
in Canberra to discuss a unified
training methodology for Audio and
Video examiners.
In 2015, ANZPAA NIFS published
Education and Training Guidelines for
Audio and Video Examination which sought
to inform the development of nationally
consistent training and education. The
document detailed agreed theory and
practical components, but it stopped short
of providing an actual training curriculum.
An environmental scan of the training
landscape highlights the lack of established
industry provided courses for police AV
which is a highly specialised and niche
discipline. All jurisdictions are providing
in-house training to varying degrees. To
address this issue, ANZPAA NIFS facilitated
a workshop, hosted by AFP Forensics in
Majura.
Workshop members, featured in one of the two AFP AV studios. From left to right - Sharon
Bamford VICPOL, David Ringrose AFP, Geoff Biggs AFP, Tony Bonnici VICPOL, Jason Hutcheon
TASPOL, Tim Woodcock QPOL, Jane Elliott QPOL
Jurisdictional AV practitioners, armed
with their own training documents met to
establish a nationally consistent framework.
They commenced the task of developing
actual lesson plans with training outcomes
and in many cases identified actual training
resources.
Many people predicted that audio may
face a decline with the proliferation of
video, however jurisdictions are reporting
the opposite with the demand for audio
enhancement actually increasing.
A particular challenge was
evident: the need of retaining
skills with legacy formats such
as VHS and reel to reel tape,
whilst keeping pace of new
advancements such as Body
Worn Cameras and cloud
based CCTV systems.
The work will continue this year within the
AVSWG with aims to publish a completed
training framework in 2019.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
12
The Forensic Exhibit
Meetings and workshops
Workshop Report:
Introduction
to Evaluative
Reporting in
Forensic Science
Date:
2 to 14 June 2018
Location:
Victoria Police Forensic Services
Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Matthew Bolton
Scientific Officer, Forensic Ballistics
Investigation Section, New South Wales
Police Force
Day 1
Dr Jo Bunford, Head of Trace Evidence,
NSW Forensic and Analytical Science
Service (FASS), set the scene by
introducing the workshop to evaluative
reporting, emphasising the formalised
thought processes that enable the
evaluation of scientific findings. Dr Bunford
detailed the background to evaluative
reporting and how it is used overseas and
in Australia. Dr Kaye Ballantyne, Victoria
Police Forensic Services Department,
continued with a presentation on the focus
of forensic science, the role of the courts
and types of expert evidence. Dr Ballantyne
introduced the basic elements and benefits
of evaluative reporting and a structured
workflow diagram for developing an
evaluative report.
Hosted by the Victoria Police
Forensic Services Centre, the
Introduction to Evaluative
reporting in Forensic Science
workshop brought together a
diverse range of participants
from many forensic
disciplines in Australia and
New Zealand to discuss key
issues in evaluative reporting.
outcome. Participants were shown how
stronger support for an elimination or
identification within the ‘inconclusive’ range
can assist in supporting one hypothesis
over the other.
A cool evening saw in the workshop
dinner, where networks continued to be
developed across the many disciplines and
jurisdictions present.
Day 2
Day two started with Dr Ballantyne
presenting lectures on setting propositions,
which is the first step in the evaluative
reporting structure. Proposition rules were
introduced along with the importance of
developing propositions at the appropriate
hierarchical level, which are dependent
upon the case framework of circumstances.
Participants were then required to develop
their own propositions based upon the
prosecution and defence (or competing)
hypotheses from a number of disciplinesspecific exercises.
Dr Duncan Taylor from Flinders University
delivered a series of very detailed
presentations on report evaluation, the
establishment of databases, database
construction through such tasks as
experimentation, literature reviews and
expert experience and the use of numerical
systems or verbal equivalents to represent
the support of one proposition over
another. Day two continued with more
exercises and group discussions before
retiring to Ivanhoe for more networking.
Day 3
Dr Bunford and Dr Ballantyne commenced
the third and final day with presentations on
reporting results, stressing the importance
of transparency by communicating
assumptions, explanations and outlining
how the findings lead to the conclusion(s)
reached in the report. The subjective
estimation of probabilities, which may
be numeric or use verbal descriptors,
were again emphasised. Other beneficial
information during this final stage included
the reduction of bias and warnings about
framed questions and anchored beliefs.
The final part of the workshop looked at
the implementation of evaluative reporting
in the workplace, which included ideas
such as stakeholder education and report
appendices explaining the evaluative
process.
Robust discussions then ensued during
the remaining time, before departure to our
home locations. A special note of thanks
must go to Mr Dean Catoggio, for his
excellent administration of the course and
his direct line to Melbourne’s taxi services.
Mr Gerhard Weavers, Firearms and
Toolmark examination expert from
the Institute of Environmental Science
Research, New Zealand, delivered the postlunch session on probability and statistics,
likelihood ratios and worked examples,
highlighting how these concepts could
be used in a number of forensic science
settings. Gerhard went on to discuss
the possible information available from
an ‘inconclusive’ result. An inconclusive
result covers a broad range of findings
from ‘almost’ an elimination to ‘almost’ an
identification, with the potential for valuable
information being lost when nothing further
is reported beyond the ‘inconclusive’
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
13
The Forensic Exhibit
Events Calendar – 2018
2018
August
International Police Executive
Symposium 2018
19 – 24 August 2018
Vienna, Austria
http://ipes.info/
The International Association
of Forensic Toxicologists
(TIAFT) 2018 Conference
ICDF2C 2018: 10th EAI
International Conference
on Digital Forensics and
Cybercrime
10 – 12 September 2018
New Orleans, United States
http://d-forensics.org/
ICDFJE 2018: 20th
International Conference on
Digital Forensics and Justice
System
10 – 11 September 2018
2019
Jan
21st International Conference
on Forensic and Investigative
Science
21 – 22 January 2019
London, United Kingdom
https://waset.org/conference/2019/01/london/
ICFIS
June
Tokyo, Japan
26 – 30 August 2018
Ghent, Belgium
http://www.tiaft2018.org/
8th European Academy of
Forensic Science Conference
27 – 31 August 2018
Lyon, France
https://www.eafs2018.eu/programme/10
September
10th Asian Forensic Science
Network (AFSN) Annual
Meeting and Symposium
4 – 8 September 2018
Beijing, China
http://afsn2018.cn/
Australian and New Zealand
Forensic Science Society
(ANZFSS) 24th International
Symposium 2018
9 – 13 September 2018
Perth, Western Australia
http://www.ANZFSS2018.com
https://waset.org/conference/2018/09/tokyo/
ICDFJS
International Symposium
on Human Identification
(ISHI) 2018
24 – 27 September 2018
Phoenix, Arizona
https://www.ishinews.com/
October
Society of Forensic
Toxicologists Annual Meeting
2018
7 – 12 October 2018
3rd World Conference and
Exhibition on Forensic Science
3 – 4 June 2019
Berlin, Germany
https://scientificfederation.com/forensicscience-2019/
September
28th Congress of the
International Society for
Forensic Genetics (ISFG)
9 – 14 September 2019
Prague, Czech Republic
http://www.isfg2019.org/
Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://www.soft-tox.org/meeting
December
31st Annual Australian
and New Zealand Society
of Criminology (ANZSOC)
Conference
4 – 7 December 2018
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.anzsoc.org/cms-conferences/
index.phps
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
14
The Forensic Exhibit
Next edition focus
In the
next issue:
Forensic project update
• Transition of Technology from the
Laboratory to the Field
Follow us on Twitter:
@nifs_anz
• Peer Review in Forensic Science
Meetings and workshops
• ANZFSS Symposium
• Specialist Advisory Group Meetings
• Best Practice Digital Imaging in
Forensic Odontology Workshop
• Continuing Education for Mortuary
Technicians Workshop
• Advancing the Value of Fibre Traces
Obtained in Casework Workshop
• Ian Riebeling New Practitioner
Workshop
More
information:
Newsletter contributions
If you would like any further information on
ANZPAA NIFS or would like to contribute
to the next edition of The Forensic Exhibit
please contact Tracie Gould:
tracie.gould@anzpaa.org.au
Contact us
Level 6, Tower 3
World Trade Centre
637 Flinders Street,
Docklands Victoria 3008
T: +61 3 9628 7211
F: +61 3 9628 7253
secretariat.nifs@anzpaa.org.au
www.nifs.org.au
Disclaimer
This newsletter is for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this
newsletter are not necessarily those of ANZPAA NIFS. ANZPAA NIFS has taken all reasonable
measures to ensure that the material contained in this newsletter is correct. However, ANZPAA
NIFS gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or the completeness of
the material.
Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2018
15