As used in this article, serial murder refers to a homicide "involving the murder of two or more persons in separate incidents with an interval of time between the homicides." Although the actual number of serial murders in Australia is not presently known, the number of murders committed by strangers, a common element of serial murder, is relatively small. There is not sufficient evidence to assert that serial murder is caused directly by identifiable factors. Although certain psychological and sociological factors are significant in violent and aggressive behaviors, the specific elements instrumental in the violent behavioral patterns of the serial murderer have yet to be explained. Regarding control mechanisms for the serial murderer, there is a need for police agencies to adopt appropriate techniques for both identifying and investigating serial murders. A national homicide monitoring program, which will record the characteristics of every homicide occurring in Australia, is necessary to identify the fact that serial murderers are operating. The investigation of serial murders most often requires police agencies of a number of jurisdictions where the murders have occurred to coordinate their efforts. Solved and unsolved serial murders in Australia are profiled, and the "copycat" phenomenon is discussed. 1 table, 1 figure, 33 references