At a secret plot of bushland on the outskirts of Sydney, teams of elite forensic specialists are combing through a wooded clearing.

Key points: Australian forensic specialists practise their responses to such scenarios as terrorist bombings at a secret location outside of Sydney

Australian forensic specialists practise their responses to such scenarios as terrorist bombings at a secret location outside of Sydney The "victims" are deceased people who prior to death donated their bodies to the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research

The "victims" are deceased people who prior to death donated their bodies to the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research It's an opportunity to test rapid DNA technology — designed to reduce the time it takes to identify victims

In this exercise, the aftermath of a terrorist bombing is unfolding around them — a car explosion has caused a devastating building collapse, trapping six hostages.

It is a grisly but ground-breaking scenario, given the bodies buried in the rubble are real.

In an Australian first, the "victims" volunteered prior to death to help train the nation's top investigators by donating their bodies to the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER).

It was also an opportunity to test rapid DNA technology — designed to reduce the time it takes to identify victims — in a bid to improve the nation's ability to respond to disaster events.

The high-security facility is situated at an undisclosed location on the outskirts of Sydney.

Top secret science

The University of Technology Sydney facility has been pushing the boundaries of forensic science training since it opened in 2016.

Director Jodie Ward said the significance of the donations could not be understated.

"You can't replicate this kind of training without using human donors … so we are really vocal about being thankful for every single donation we receive," she said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 9 minutes 56 seconds 9 m An exclusive look inside Australia's human body farm ( Matt Wordsworth )

Due to the sensitive nature of AFTER's work, security at its facility is paramount: the perimeter is ringed with razor-wire and its location is kept secret.

Inside a transportable forensic laboratory near the 'bombsite', the associate professor was waiting for the results of a DNA test.

This vital procedure, which can take up to a week to complete, was ready in under two hours.

Dr Ward believes the AFTER facility can help Australia be a leading power in forensic science. ( ABC Radio Sydney: Matt Bamford )

Dr Ward said it was an example of the kind of work AFTER was able to facilitate with the help of Australia's Disaster Victim Identification Committee.

"There are so many benefits for us to enhance the forensic techniques we are using to search, recover and identify victims," she said.

"There are flow-on effects to criminal case work, missing persons cases and death investigations in general."

Unparalleled opportunity

Few people understand the pressures on disaster scene investigators like the AFP's Rod Anderson.

The Disaster Victim Identification Commander has helped investigate some of the worst accidents in recent memory, like the downing of MH17 and the 1997 Thredbo landslide.

"The eyes of the world are watching," he said.

"There's pressure from media, politics, and our own internal governance [asking] 'what are they going to do' and 'why are they taking so long?'"

Forensic officers try to identify and recover six human bodies as part of the Australian-first training program at AFTER. ( ABC Radio Sydney: Matt Bamford )

Unlike most training environments, officers at AFTER were confronted with the variables of a live scene where cross-contamination, different degrees of decomposition and the weather can complicate their work.

"We cannot replicate this any other way. This is a great opportunity," Mr Anderson said.

"This is the first time in Australia we have undertaken this exercise and I think we are the only ones in the southern hemisphere who are undertaking this kind of training."

He said this training was helping authorities to achieve their ultimate goal - the timely return of victims to their families.

"The Australian, New Zealand communities can be confident that we are going to accurately recover and identify their loved ones and return them as soon as we can," he said.

AFP commander Rod Anderson says the training at AFTER will help emergency services prepare for disasters around Australia and New Zealand. ( Simon Baker : Reuters )

Consequences for coroner

NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is among those keeping a close eye on the research facility.

The state's leading authority on death investigations was keen to observe the exercise firsthand.

"It is incredibly important in the event of a mass disaster to be prepared," she said.

"It's a really impressive facility, it is leading globally in this type of study."

The exercise is a chance to test rapid DNA testing technology which could make the identification of victims much faster. ( ABC Radio Sydney: Matt Bamford )

She said these operations also have the potential to improve the way coronial investigations are undertaken, especially in the initial stages.

"At the early stages the main focus is on identification...things like the rapid DNA testing are likely to improve the timeliness for identification," she said.

"That's what families want, they want to make sure that their loved one has been identified and can be returned to them as soon as possible."

"There are also benefits in working out down the track the manner and cause of death."

Donors praised

Without the generosity of the donors, this work would not be possible.

In addition to the disaster training program, these bodies would also be utilised by a host of academics investigating the effects of decomposition on human beings.

Dr Ward said it was important to recognise the value of their gift to science.

"I feel it's our job to communicate about the valuable work that is happening here so everyone appreciates the enormity of their donation."