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Forensic Anthropologists are specialist scientists who analyse bones, skeletal remains, and the physical features of the human body to solve crimes. They assess the reach and shape of wounds and bodily trauma and are often required to process unidentified remains and determine the victim’s age, gender, and time of death. Forensic Anthropologists are also involved with Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) after natural disasters and terrorist activities.
As a Forensic Anthropologist you could be called to a suspected murder scene and supervising the excavation of buried remains, attending an autopsy to assess knife wounds and assist with the identification of the murder weapon, analysing decomposed remains to determine how long the victim has been deceased, carrying out facial reconstruction on skeletal remains, writing a report from your laboratory findings to submit to the state police department, appearing in court as an expert witness, or attending an international conference for forensic professionals.
Forensic Anthropologists create reports that are used in court as evidence to convict the perpetrators of murders and serious crimes, so attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy is essential to success.
There are no clear salary figures for Australian Forensic Anthropologists at this time. Increase your earning capacity by joining a professional organisation such as the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) and pursuing a Master’s degree in a specialist field: genetics and DNA analysis, archaeology, pharmacology, forensic biology, forensic chemistry, biomedicine, or similar.
There are no clear employment figures for Forensic Anthropologists working in Australia right now. They are employed by government health departments and police forces, though most Forensic Anthropologists aspire to work for the renowned Forensic Services Division of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Canberra.
You can launch your career as a Forensic Anthropologist in Australia with a Bachelor of Human Sciences (Anatomy and Physiology) or Bachelor of Science (Anatomy and Human Biology) followed by a Master of Forensic Anthropology.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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Here are some potential career pathways within forensic science. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Forensic Science
Crime Scene Investigator
$1,250 weekly pay
DNA Analyst
$1,773 weekly pay
Forensic Analyst
Forensic Consultant
$2,030 weekly pay
Forensic Entomologist
$1,337 weekly pay
Forensic Odontologist
$1,990 weekly pay
Forensic Science Technician
$1,350 weekly pay
Biometric Assessor
$1,900 weekly pay
Criminal Investigator
$1,500 weekly pay
Forensic Chemist
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic Scientist
Forensic Toxicologist