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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Solving crime in the outback: What a career in forensics looks like

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A Scottish forensics officer, Kim Lawrence, works in the vast Australian outback, covering a region larger than her home country.
  • Her role involves a wide range of tasks, from lab work like fingerprinting and DNA analysis to attending crime scenes in remote locations.
  • Lawrence, like other female forensics officers in Queensland, prefers rural work for its community connection and the opportunity to complete forensic jobs fully.

The rugged Australian outback is a far cry from Scotland's ancient wilderness, yet it's now home to Kim Lawrence, a forensics officer whose beat spans an area larger than her native country.

You just can't pick it; you never know what kind of day you're going to have.

— Sergeant Kim LawrenceDescribing the unpredictable nature of her work as a forensics officer in the outback.

Traveling to remote towns along lonely highways, Sergeant Lawrence navigates the unique challenges of life in the outback. Her work is unpredictable; one day she might be in the lab processing fingerprints or DNA exhibits, and the next, she could be on the road attending to various incidents. These range from break-and-enters and stolen cars to more serious crimes. Her duties have even included aerial photography of cattle from a helicopter and examining clothing from fire or unnatural death scenes.

Lawrence, who moved to Australia in 2010 after studying forensic science, initially worked in a genetics lab. Seeking a more active role, she joined the police force. After general duties policing in Longreach, she pursued her qualification as a forensics officer, returning to the outback she had grown to love. "I just love this town, I love the community, I love the lifestyle," she says, highlighting the safety and strong community spirit she experiences.

I'm in the lab either fingerprinting or with DNA exhibits, and then other days I'm on the road attending jobs.

— Sergeant Kim LawrenceDetailing the variety of tasks she performs as a forensics officer.

She finds rural policing more fulfilling than urban environments. "You get the opportunity to fully complete all your forensic jobs that come through; you don't have to pass them on to someone else," Lawrence explains. "You can actually go to community events and talk to the community rather than just going from job to job and just being too busy."

I just love this town, I love the community, I love the lifestyle.

— Sergeant Kim LawrenceExpressing her affection for the rural community where she works.

Renee Hogan, another forensics officer from Emerald, shares a similar sentiment. Having started her career in forensics after being tapped on the shoulder post-academy, she has no regrets. Hogan covers a wide area, from major crimes to fatal car accidents, and finds solving cases akin to assembling a "massive jigsaw puzzle" by considering the offender's perspective. Despite the demanding nature of the job, including balancing it with family life, both officers express deep satisfaction with their careers in the outback.

You get the opportunity to fully complete all your forensic jobs that come through; you don't have to pass them on to someone else.

— Sergeant Kim LawrenceExplaining why she prefers working in a rural forensic setting.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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