Co-ordination Body for National Coronial Information

Stakeholders in the proposed National Coronial Information System decided in March 1998 to establish a national coordination group to help ensure successful completion of the project. The working name for the group is the National Coordination Committee for Coronial Information.

Information gathered in the course of coronial investigations has much potential for prevention and for assisting coroners in their work. This potential has long been recognised, both by coroners and by researchers and policy makers in other sectors. The chief barrier to tapping the potential has been the lack of a suitable information system.

The Australian Coroners' Society endorsed the idea of developing a system in 1993, at one of its first national meetings. The AIHW National Injury Surveillance Unit undertook a needs and feasibility study, published late in 1994, which found that a system would be practicable, and that there was widespread support for its development. More recently, a consortium based at Monash University has made considerable progress towards implementing a system along these lines. Pilot tests of data collection and coding are scheduled for mid-1998.

A national system must have sound technical, management and financial foundations if it is to succeed. In particular, it must meet the requirements of coroners (who will supply and use data) and other likely users(especially the organisations which, it is anticipated, will contribute much of the operating funds. The new Committee is intended to ensure that the system develops in a manner that meets the essential requirements of these groups.

Initially, the Committee will develop proposals on terms of access to data, intellectual property rights, and operation of the system in relation to current laws and practice on privacy and other ethical issues. These, and perhaps other matters, are expected to underpin a more general `National Coronial Information Agreement', endorsement of which will be sought from major stakeholders.

Professor Denis Else, the Chairman of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, will chair the new Committee. While membership has yet to be finalised, it will include nominees of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Coroners' Society, the Monash University National Centre for Coronial Information and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Membership will also include representatives of consumer affairs agencies and departments of attorneys-general. State and Commonwealth levels of government will be represented. The Department of Health and Family Services is providing secretariat support for the body.

The first meeting of the Committee is scheduled for June 1998.

For further information, contact Margaret Burdeu, Tel: 03 9637 5439