AFP disaster victim identification (DVI) specialists have participated in a multi-agency exercise to study the decomposition of human remains and test national protocols following mass fatality disaster incidents.
The exercise was led by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the University of Technology Sydney's Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER), the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Forensic taphonomy is the study of human remains from the time of death to the time of discovery, and examines the physical, chemical and biological processes of cadaver decomposition.
In practice, forensic taphonomy is important for police investigations involving missing persons, as well as victims of terrorist attacks, homicide, genocide, and mass disaster.
Members of the AFP's DVI team attended the five-day training at AFTER in November 2024, alongside about 50 members from the ADF, state and territory police, and medical professionals, to respond to an exercise scenario which simulated a terrorism incident with numerous fatalities.
Eight donor bodies were recovered from the scenario and examined at a temporary morgue onsite by forensic pathologists and odontologists, using and testing international DVI guidelines and processes.
Participants were able to test communication processes, coordination of resources, collaboration with different agencies, and practical skills when recovering vital evidence to support investigations and identify remains.
AFP DVI specialist Ben Marshall said the training was essential for AFP officers who rapidly deploy to respond to incidents with mass casualties.
"AFTER is a unique and world-class facility, and the opportunity to improve our skill set and work with human donors is invaluable and a privilege," Mr Marshall said.
"The training provided a sense of realism both mentally and physically that cannot be replicated and was such a unique opportunity to work with specialists and experts from other agencies and jurisdictions.
"We hope to never use these skills however we must be prepared to respond to tragic real-life incidents that impact our community.
"This day would not be possible without the individuals willing to donate their remains to AFTER and their families - their selflessness is not forgotten."
AFTER Director Dr Maiken Ueland said the exercise highlighted the benefit of taphonomic facilities such as AFTER to provide realistic conditions for training Australia's disaster response service.
"These sessions allow us to test new technologies and methods to improve the way we handle disaster events, with the aim of locating, recovering and identifying victims quicker," Dr Ueland said.
"This work could not be done without the close collaboration between industry and research and is something we value highly at AFTER."
Queensland Police DVI Coordinator and ADF Squadron Leader Ritchie Callaghan said it was vital for DVI practitioners to continue to train and upskill to ensure readiness for future events.
"DVI processes have been previously applied for significant events such as the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, 2002 Bali Bombings and the downing of flight MH17 in 2014," Squadron Leader Callaghan said.
If you are considering donating to AFTER as a Living Donor or as a Senior Next-of-Kin (donating the body of a deceased family member), you can find more information here. Bodies donated to AFTER are used for teaching, research and surgical purposes.
*A cadaver is a dead human body used by medical students, physicians and scientists to study anatomy.
