Resources and legislation
State coroner's guidelines
- Outline
- Chapter 1: Introduction and the scope of the coroner's role
- Chapter 2: The rights and interests of family members
- Chapter 3: Reporting deaths
- Chapter 4: Dealing with bodies
- Chapter 5: Preliminary investigations, autopsies and retained tissue
- Chapter 6: Release of bodies for burial or cremation
- Chapter 7: Investigations
- Chapter 8: Findings
- Chapter 9: Inquests
- Chapter 10: Access to coronial information
- Chapter 11: Memoranda of understanding
Publications and brochures
- Coronial investigations - information for families and friends
- Coronial investigations and the police response:
- Funeral Assistance – what is funeral assistance and how to apply
- What to expect at an inquest – information for families and friends
- Coronial Assistance Legal Service – free legal help for families going through the coronial process
- Inquest listing - monthly report (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Information for health professionals
- Issuing cause of death certificates for apparent natural causes deaths - a guide for Queensland medical practitioners (PDF, 256.0 KB)
- A death in the workplace - A guide for family and friends
- Deaths in care (disability) – Expert Review Panel Final Report
- Deaths in care
- Queensland Government's response to coronial recommendations:
- 2012 (PDF, 1.9 MB)
- 2011 (PDF, 616.8 KB)
- 2010 (PDF, 655.2 KB)
- 2009 (PDF, 1008.6 KB)
- 2008 (PDF, 509.0 KB)
- When is a COVID-19 death reportable to the coroner
Coronial forms
- Application for access to coronial documents
- Form 1A - Medical practitioner report of a death to a coroner
- Form 15 - Application to coroner to hold an inquest
- Form 16 - Application to State Coroner for an order to hold an inquest
- Form 21 - Application to State Coroner to set aside a finding
Maps
Useful agencies
Support Services for families and friends
- Standby Suicide Service – Uniting Care suicide bereavement programs for people who live in the Brisbane and Far North Queensland
- Lifeline – Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention
- Kids Helpline – Free, private, confidential phone and online counseling for 5 to 25 year olds
- Reach Out - Mental health organisation for young people and their parents
- Red Nose - For families who have experienced the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child
- Victims Counselling and Support Services – For people affected by violent crime, either directly or indirectly.
- Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group – Range of support services for people affected by the death of a loved one by homicide
- The Compassionate Friends, Qld Inc.- Grief support for parents, siblings and grandparents after the death of a child
- Salvos Careline – Phone crisis counselling for issues including bereavement
- Victims Assist Queensland – Referral services for victims of crime and their families, includes financial assistance information for funeral expenses
- Paradise Kids – Grief and loss support program for kids
- Suicide Call Back Service – Phone counselling for those at risk of suicide and those affected by the death of a loved one by suicide
- Griefline – Supports people experiencing loss and grief at any stage of life
Queensland and Australian coronial services
- Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services – Forensic services provided to police and the Coroners Court
- Queensland Police Stations – police station locator
- Objections to autopsy (Queensland University of Technology) – Explains how families can make objections to autopsy
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (Griffith University) – Leading centre for research, clinical practice, education and community action for suicide prevention
- Australian Funeral Directors Association – National funeral service organisation consisting of members in every State and Territory
- Queensland Funeral Directors Association – Contacts for the QLD Division of the AFDA
- Queensland State Archives - Lead agency for public recording keeping in QLD
- Asia Pacific Coroners Society – Promotes the advancement, best practice and education of coronial law and practice
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine – Australia’s largest multi-disciplinary center for forensic medical and scientific services
- Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia - Organisation representing pathologist and senior scientists in Australasia
- National Coronial Information System (NCIS) – Database of information about deaths reported to coroners in Australia and New Zealand
- Removal of sperm from a deceased person for IVF ( Queensland Health) – Information and guidelines about sperm retrieval after death
- Body Donation Program (The University of Queensland) – Information on UQ’s body donation program
Legislation
- Legislation relevant to the coronial jurisdiction:
- Coroners Act 2003 – the role of the State Coroner, reportable deaths and investigation and inquest requirements
- Coroners Regulation 2015 - information about fees payable under the Act to particular persons
- Cremations Act 2003 - regulates the process of cremating human remains
- Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003 - information about the registration of births, deaths and marriages
- Burials Assistance Act 1965 - provides for the burial or cremation of deceased people who have no assets or for anyone that cannot pay for or organise a funeral
- Recording of Evidence Regulation 2008 - information about fees and obtaining court transcripts.
- Judicial Review Act 1991 - relating to the review on questions of law of certain administrative decisions and for the reform of procedures relating to judicial review at common law