DISTINCTIONS ARE DRAWN BETWEEN FORENSIC SCIENCE AND FORENSIC MEDICINE, AND AREAS OF COMMON GROUND BETWEEN THE TWO FIELDS ARE POINTED OUT. THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST IS DEFINED AS ONE WHO APPLIES THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES TO THE EXAMINATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. IT IS NOTED THAT THE TERM 'CRIMINALIST' FREQUENTLY IS USED TO DESCRIBE ONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN IDENTIFICATION AND INDIVIDUALIZATION, ACTIVITIES WHICH COMPRISE THE MAIN PART OF THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST'S DUTIES. AREAS OF SPECIALTY WITHIN FORENSIC SCIENCE ARE OUTLINED, AND AN ANALOGY IS DRAWN BETWEEN THE GENERAL FORENSIC SCIENTIST AND THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER OF MEDICINE. THE ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING OF FORENSIC SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AND IN NEW ZEALAND ARE DESCRIBED. THE DIVERSITY OF AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCES IN AUSTRALIA IS CONTRASTED WITH NEW ZEALAND'S SYSTEM, IN WHICH ONE CENTRAL ORGANIZATION PERFORMS MOST SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR POLICE. THE STRUCTURE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES IN OTHER COUNTRIES IS MENTIONED. AUSTRALIA'S PROBLEM WITH FRAGMENTATION AND DUPLICATION OF FORENSIC SERVICES IS NOTED, AS IS THE NEED TO IMPROVE REGIONAL LABORATORY SERVICE RESOURCES IN AUSTRALIA, PARTICULARLY IF THE PROPOSED CENTRAL FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS ESTABLISHED. PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND OTHER GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN AUSTRALIA ARE IDENTIFIED. AN APPENDED TABLE SUMMARIZES THE IN-HOUSE AND OUTSIDE SOURCES OF SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES USED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN AUSTRALIAN FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE ARE ALSO APPENDED. (LKM)