About us

The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science provides academic and clinical excellence in forensic mental health research and practice. We bring together academics, clinicians, researchers and students from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work, law, occupational therapy and epidemiology.

Our research, consulting services and professional development and training programs have strengthened the field of forensic behavioural science in Australia and overseas.  

Our mission is to create new knowledge through rigorous, clinically informed and service-oriented research that improves our understanding of people who are at risk of offending, people who are already justice involved, and people who are the victims of crime, as well as the systems responsible for their care and management.

We harness additional expertise through our affiliations and collaborations. In particular, we have a strong partnership with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare), serving as Forensicare’s research and training arm.

We also have a long record of collaborating with other general and forensic mental health and correctional services, as well as international experts. 

See our objectives and strategies in our strategic plan

Dare to Dream 2026

Forensic Mental Health Nursing Conference

Hosted by Swinburne University of Technology, this international conference seeks to bring together forensic mental health nurses who work across a range of settings, including inpatient, courts, prisons, community and police custody centres, to work together and learn from each other to explore clinical practice and advances in research.

Find out more

The conference will be held at Swinburne's Hawthorn campus in Melbourne, Australia.

Our objectives and strategies

Strategic Plan 2023–2028
Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science

Strategic Plan 2023–2028

Leadership and innovation through research and education excellence to shape safe, effective and humane justice systems and forensic mental health services.
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asaputra@swin.edu.au asaputra@swin.edu.au

What is forensic behavioural science?

Forensic behavioural science concerns the study of the relationship between human behaviour and offending, including:

  • understanding how criminal behaviour is produced and what might be done to prevent such behaviour 
  • informing practice in the field of forensic mental health 
  • assisting professionals responsible for the assessment and treatment of the mentally disordered whose behaviour has led, or could lead, to offending 
  • influencing the way that law enforcement, courts and criminal justice systems identify and manage offenders. 

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Contact the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science

There are many ways to engage with us. Whether you’re a student, from the media or an organisation interested in our professional development and training programs or consulting services, contact us on +61 3 9214 6222 or via cfbs@swinburne.edu.au. 

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