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The State Coroner's Office is responsible for investigating deaths where the circumstances are sudden, traumatic or unexplained.
Staff at the State Coroner's Office understand the impact this may have on family and friends. Their priority is to investigate the person's death sensitively and professionally, ever mindful of the dignity and privacy of the person who has died and respectful of the family's needs at all times.
The coroner's responsibility
Under the Coroner's Act 1985, when a death is reported, the coroner, who is usually a magistrate, is required to find out:
- the identity of the deceased
- how death occurred (the circumstances)
- the cause of death
- the particulars needed to register the death.
In some cases the coroner may comment and make recommendations about public health or safety or the administration of justice. This helps prevent similar deaths happening.
There does not have to be anything suspicious about the death for the coroner to be involved. In fact, there are relatively few suspicious deaths in Victoria. Most investigations involve people who have died of natural causes.
Which deaths are reported to the coroner?
A death must be reported to the coroner for investigation when:
- the person died unexpectedly
- the person died from an accident or injury
- the person died in an unnatural or violent way
- the person died during or as a result of an anaesthetic
- the person was 'held in care' immediately before they died
- a doctor has been unable to sign a death certificate giving the cause of death
- the identity of the person who has died is not known.
Through the State Coroner's Office, family and friends can find the support they may need in dealing with the coronial process and the loss of their loved one.
State Coroner's Office of Victoria
57 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, Victoria, 3006, Australia
Phone No: 9684 4444; freecall for country callers: 1800 136 852
Fax No: +61 3 9622 1206
URL: www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au
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