Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
This is a RCIADIC recommendation
40
Uniform database to record details of deaths in custody
That Coroners Offices in all States and Territories establish and maintain a uniform data base to record details of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal deaths in custody and liaise with the Australian Institute of Criminology and such other bodies as may be authorised to compile and maintain records of Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia.
Our communities have requested more public data, to put agency back in their hands and guide culturally safe responses to Aboriginal health and wellbeing…it is crucial that this information is given back to our people in support of self-determination.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Assessment
The intent of Recommendation 40 was for coroners in each state and territory to keep consistent records of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal deaths in custody that could inform national monitoring of these deaths.
The Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC) determined that actions taken strongly aligned with the intent of this recommendation. However, they noted the lengthy delay between recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody being handed down in 1991 and the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) being established in 2000.
The NCIS is a database of information on deaths reported to coroners in Australia and New Zealand. The team that supports operation of the NCIS is based in the Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria. Their role is to collect comprehensive data, quality assure and manage this data, provide high-quality statistical information and maintain national coding standards.
The AJC also noted the establishment of the Coroners Aboriginal Engagement Unit under the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and their ongoing efforts to improve Aboriginal identification and accuracy of information about deaths in custody. These efforts, along with the continued operation of the NCIS contribute to the ongoing implementation of this recommendation.
Recommendation 40 remains relevant given the need for states and territories to maintain consistent records of Aboriginal deaths in custody to identify systemic issues and provide data to community to support advocacy for changes that may prevent further deaths.
The AJC considered that additional resources for the Coroners Aboriginal Engagement Unit and greater Aboriginal involvement in the oversight of the NCIS could strengthen implementation of this recommendation.
Priority for Further Work:
Low
Relevance and potential impact | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low (0-2) | Moderate (3-4) | High (5-6) | |||
Extent of action taken and evidence of outcomes | High (5-6) | ||||
Moderate (3-4) | |||||
Low (0-2) | |||||
Potential Actions for Further Work
Increase Aboriginal involvement in the oversight of coronial databases
Increase Aboriginal community representation on the National Deaths in Custody Program Steering Group and oversight of the National Coronial Information System.
Additional resourcing for Aboriginal Engagement Unit within the Coroners Court
Provide additional resources to the Yirramboi Murrup Unit (Coroners Aboriginal Engagement Unit) to better support families with coronial processes, and the collection and recording of information from reportable Aboriginal passings.
Background
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found that records from thoroughly conducted coronial inquiries were critically important to identifying systemic failures in custodial practices and the prevention of future deaths in similar circumstances.
Actions Taken Since Last Review
National Coronial Information System
The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine managed the NCIS from 2004-2012. Since then, it has been managed by the Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria.
Impact
Outputs
National Coronial Information System
The NCIS core data set was agreed upon by all participating jurisdictions upon its establishment. The NCIS Unit monitors the provision of information from coroners’ courts against the core data set.
Access to the database is available to coroners to assist investigations and appropriate access is available on application for research or monitoring projects.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identification
The NCIS contains two fields which indicate whether an individual identified as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Coronial information is supplemented with Indigenous status information from each state/territory Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. The latter data originates from the death registration process and/or medical certificate cause of death.
Collecting two data sources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification in the NCIS recognises the importance of this information for death and injury prevention work. It acknowledges the difficulty of collecting comprehensive and accurate data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification in administrative data sets. Two data sources provide greater coverage and a reduced reliance on one administrative process to capture this characteristic. It supplements Australian coronial data for these variables which is not always consistently collected.
Outcomes
National Coronial Information System
Established in 2000 in response to recommendations from the RCIADIC, the NCIS is a secure database of information on deaths reported to a coroner in Australia and New Zealand. The NCIS contains data on over 450,000 cases investigated by a coroner. Data includes demographic information on the deceased, contextual details on the nature of the fatality and searchable medico-legal case reports including the coronial finding, autopsy and toxicology report and police notification of death.
Key roles of the NCIS:
- Collect comprehensive data on reportable deaths
- Quality assure and manage this unique collection of data
- Provide high-quality statistical information
- Manage access to highly sensitive information
- Develop and maintain national coding standards
The NCIS contains both coded and non-coded data as well as searchable legal, medical and scientific reports. Cases are coded by court appointed staff in each jurisdiction. Coded fields are completed once the coronial investigation is complete. The NCIS conducts a quality assurance review of closed cases to ensure coding is correct and to facilitate data searching.
Collection of data to populate the NCIS is a secondary purpose of the coronial investigation and data collection is the result of operational processes which differ between the nine jurisdictions. Each coronial jurisdiction is governed by a Coronial Act, which are subject to changes over time. Therefore, there are differences in the processes, type and comprehensiveness of data collection. While these differences have an impact on the information available in the NCIS, as far as possible the data is nationally standardised.
The value of the NCIS increases every year as more cases are added to this vast evidence base. The NCIS is a ‘work in progress,’ much like our understandings of preventable death.
Coroners Court of Victoria
Since the establishment of the Aboriginal-led Coroners Aboriginal Engagement Unit in 2019, the Coroners Court of Victoria has enhanced identification and accuracy of information regarding current and historic reportable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander passings which include those that occurred in custody.
Community Views
Troy Williamson
Our communities have requested more public data, to put agency back in their hands and guide culturally safe responses to Aboriginal health and wellbeing…it is crucial that this information is given back to our people in support of self-determination.