M6009 Master of Forensic Medicine

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Foundation studies, and Part B. Applied studies.

Part A. Foundation studies

These studies will enable you to develop an understanding and the skills of four key areas required for high quality forensic medical and scientific service and will apply to medical practitioners, biomedical medical scientists and radiographers: medical evidence, injury interpretation, elements of forensic science and ethics, medicine and the law.

In particular, you will gain practical skills and knowledge of the legal and procedural rules and administrative arrangements for the presentation of evidence to courts and tribunals within the justice system. You will also learn about the interpretation of injuries, including the pathophysiology of injuries and injury classification and documentation. You will become familiar with the tools and vocabulary of ethical discourse in forensic medicine and science. You will learn how the broader forensic science disciplines interact with your own area in the performance of case work, including rules of evidence collection and preservation and chain of custody for forensic samples.

Part B. Applied studies

These studies enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of forensic medicine that suit your interests, skills and career goals. You will gain in-depth knowledge of a range of key areas within either forensic medicine, or forensic science. 

Course progression map

The course progression maps provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study:

M6009 course map for study within Australia

M6009 course map for study in the Philippines

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundation studies (18 points)

You must complete the following units:

• FOR4001 Medical evidence
• FOR4003 Ethics, medicine and law
• FOR4004 Elements of the forensic sciences

Part B. Applied studies (54 points)

You must complete one of the specialisations listed below.

Clinical forensic medicine

Core studies (Clinical) (30 points)
You must complete FOR4002, FOR5005, FOR5008, FOR5012, and one of (FOR5013 or FOR5018).

• FOR4002 Injury interpretation
• FOR5005 Adult sexual assault
• FOR5008 Custodial medicine
• FOR5012 Child and adolescent sexual abuse
• FOR5013 Non accidental injury in childhood
• FOR5018 Elements of forensic anthropology

AND

• FOR5006 Traffic medicine
• FOR5007 Elements of forensic toxicology
• FOR5009 Advanced issues in sexual violence
• FOR5011 Advanced issues in non-accidental injury of children
• FOR5013 Non accidental injury in childhood
• FOR5018 Elements of forensic anthropology
• FOR5021 Mortuary technical science
• FOR5022 Advanced methods in forensic science: Emerging trends and issues
• FOR5023 Quality management in the forensic sciences
• FOR5025 Forensic pharmacology
• FOR5026 Death investigation
• FOR5100 Forensic Pathology Practice 1
• FOR5200 Forensic Pathology Practice 2
• FOR5300 Forensic Pathology Practice 3
• FOR5400 Forensic Pathology practice 4

• FOR5007 Elements of forensic toxicology
• FOR5021 Mortuary technical science
• FOR5023 Quality management in the forensic sciences*
• FOR5026 Death investigation

AND

• FOR4002 Injury interpretation
• FOR5005 Adult sexual assault
• FOR5008 Custodial medicine
• FOR5013 Non-accidental injury in childhood
• FOR5018 Elements of forensic anthropology
• FOR5022 Advanced methods in forensic Science: Emerging trends and issues*
• FOR5025 Forensic pharmacology