Vic: World first coronial database launched

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2000
Vic: World first coronial database launched

MELBOURNE, Aug 25 AAP - A world-first coronial database unveiled in Melbourne today
is being billed as a potential lifesaver.

The National Coroners' Information System (NCIS) will for the first time gather findings
on the causes of deaths including age, gender, marital status and ethnicity, medical and
other factors.

Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone described the initiative as the most significant
in the 800-year (800) history of the coronial jurisdiction.

"We can now find out quickly and reliably how many deaths of a particular type have
occurred over a given period and whether an unusual type of incident has occurred elsewhere,"

Mr Johnstone said.

Such a database has been talked about for 10 years but gained the support of most Australian
attorneys-general only three years ago.

Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the NCIS was a world first that should enable
researchers to identify risk factors in particular age and ethnic groups.

"I think the NCIS will revolutionise the way we investigate and respond to preventable
deaths here in Australia," he said.

Coronial information will be readily available to other agencies which previously had
to visit the Coroner's Office and pull out reams of paper files.

This has been time consuming and costly with one National Occupational Health and Safety
Commission investigation into workplace deaths taking several years.

State and commonwealth attorneys-general last month agreed to allow wider access to
the database, available from November.

A trial will start within weeks. Legitimate researchers and agencies will then be able
to apply for user names and passwords into the system.

All states and territories except Queensland are involved and interest in joining the
database has been shown from New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The database is developed and managed by the Monash University National Centre for
Coronial Information, located at Melbourne Coroner's Court.

AAP pjb/jd/gmw

KEYWORD: CORONER

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