The NSW Government has invested $91.5 million to create a world-class Forensic Medicine & Coroners Court Complex. It is the largest facility of its kind in Australia and represents a significant leap forward for coronial investigations in NSW.

The extensive high-tech facilities will enable more comprehensive coronial investigations of sudden and unexplained deaths, including complex cases and disasters involving mass casualties.

The facility has been carefully designed to offer even greater respect and dignity for grieving families seeking answers.

It also provides a more modern and spacious environment for our staff who carry out these vital services.

This two-day course will introduce participants to the scope and practice of forensic odontology with particular emphasis on disaster victim identification.

The utilisation of dental techniques for human identification is simple in concept but complex in process. Participants will be guided through the inter-related processes and procedures utilised in a disaster event. Presentations on the Asian Tsunami and other mass fatality incidents are used to illustrate the process.

A practical component with a mock disaster exercise is held in the main mortuary. Exercises in tooth identification, antemortem and postmortem radiographic matching and age estimation from radiographic evidence are also components of the course.

Participants will have a greater understanding of the value of the quality of their clinical records in the identification process. Become a forensic “sleeper”, a skill set that will fascinate you but we hope you will never need it.

The NSW Forensic Education Committee is comprised of the following presenters:

• Dr Denise Donlon is a Senior Lecturer at Sydney University, Curator of the Shellshear Museum, and a Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Science in the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
• Associate Professor Alex Forrest is a registered specialist forensic odontologist and is an Associate Professor at Griffith University and Head of the Queensland Dental Identification Service.
• Dr Pamela Gower is a registered specialist forensic odontologist and is a long standing Visiting Dental Officer (Westmead Hospital) working in the NSW Dental Identification Unit.
• Professor (Affiliate) Chris Griffiths is a registered specialist forensic odontologist and is Joint Coordinator of the NSW Dental Identification Unit. A previous Assistant Surgeon General, Air Force.
• Dr Russell Lain is a registered specialist forensic odontologist and works as a Staff Specialist with Sydney Dental Hospital.
• Dr Selina Leow is a Visiting Dental Officer (Westmead Hospital) working in the NSW Dental Identification Unit.
• Dr Alain Middleton is a registered specialist forensic odontologist and is a member of the Interpol DVI Standing Committee.
• Dr Istvan Szentmariay is a forensic pathologist working at The Department of Forensic Medicine, Forensic and Analytical Science Service, Lidcombe.

**Please be advised that participants will be required to bring their own laptop for use on the course.**

Topics include

• The history of forensic dentistry
• Identification methods
• Mass casualty incidents
• Mortuary procedures
• Medical and Dental Autopsies
• Dental radiology
• Forensic pathology
• Dental records and nomenclature
• Post traumatic stress
• Race, age, sex and stature determination
• Age estimation
• Identification of bite marks and child abuse
• Computerised dental and bite mark identification