Volunteers Wanted: Testing a New Forensic Quality Classification System (F-QIC)

Anna Heavey, Senior Forensic Scientist (Quality, Training, Safety & Risk) at PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, is inviting members of the international forensic community to take part in a research study as part of her PhD at Curtin University, Perth.

Following over five years of research, the Forensic Quality Issue Classification System (F-QIC) has been developed as the first standardized framework for classifying quality issues across all forensic disciplines. The system aims to support greater consistency in practice, enable benchmarking, and drive continuous improvement across forensic service providers.

The project is now entering its testing phase, and input from experienced professionals is essential.

Who should participate?
Professionals with experience in identifying, managing, or classifying forensic quality issues, including:

Forensic quality managers and practitioners
Forensic scientists / analysts
Laboratory or operational managers
Agency directors and senior leadership
Accreditation or regulatory body professionals

What’s involved?
Participants will use an online platform (Qualtrics) to:

Classify a series of hypothetical quality issue scenarios using the F-QIC system
Provide feedback on usability and performance

Time commitment:
Approximately 20–60 minutes, depending on your area(s) of expertise. The study can be completed in multiple sittings.

Access the study:
https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Xcs5jiuDlr3T8i

Further information, including a short introductory video, is available within the platform.

Your participation will directly contribute to the development of a tool designed to improve quality practices across forensic science globally. Please also consider sharing this opportunity within your professional networks.