Information and resources

Factsheet: Key organisations in the Victorian legal sector

This outlines the many organisations that help us deliver justice, including government departments and legal bodies such as the Victorian Bar. It explains the role of the Office of Public Prosecutions and details organisations that assist people in dealing with the Court.

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Factsheet: Criminal trial process

This outlines how a criminal trial is conducted and explains the typical processes involved, from committal hearing to sentencing. It also provides a recent case to illustrate these concepts.

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Factsheet: County Koori Court

This provides an overview of the first Australian specialist court for indigenous offenders in a higher jurisdiction. It explains the need for such a court and the way it delivers justice with the help of Aboriginal Elders and other Respected Persons.

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Factsheet: County Court and law reform

This looks at the law reform framework and the role we play in the process led by the Victorian Parliament. It includes examples of recent law reforms and discusses the conventions and laws governing our relationship with the media, including the reporting of judgments, suppression orders and contempt of court.

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Factsheet: County Court work and key personnel

This outlines the difference between civil and criminal cases and gives an overview of the types of people at court, from court staff to the people involved in trials. It defines our most commonly used legal terms and explains key legal procedures.

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Factsheet: Civil trial process

This outlines how a civil trial is conducted, including the choice of judge or jury. 1806 approved

Factsheet

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Factsheet: Appointment, role and powers of judges

This examines our judges and court hierarchy, from Chief Judge to non-judicial officers.

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Australian Red Cross: Forced Marriage in Australia

Videos created with and for communities affected by forced marriage in Victoria.

Website

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Factsheet: Access to justice and dispute resolution

This is about the fundamental principle of access to justice. It examines the barriers to justice faced by some members of the community and the measures we are taking to address the impact of disadvantage.

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About the Drug Court

Overview of the Drug Court - an alternative approach to sentencing.

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Dr Grant and his underpants

A fully scripted model mediation designed to show students the procedure for the mediation of a dispute. Based on the real case of Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Limited. Also demonstrates the effectiveness of mediation as a method of dispute resolution.

Teaching Kit

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Donoghue v Stevenson: the snail in the bottle case

A brief video outlining the facts of the case, and the three legal precedents that came about from it

Case Study

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Constitution Education: Does Australia need a Charter of Rights?

An article discussing the Constitution's Protection of rights and whether Austrlia needs a Charter of Human rights

Article

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Do we have a constitutional right to protest?

An article discussing the decision of the High Court decision in Brown v Tasmania abour the implied right to political communication

Article

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Diversion programs

Information on being granted a diversion program.

Snapshot

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County Court Educational Resources

New County Court resources for Legal Studies teachers and students which includes fact sheets, films, virtual tour and case studies.

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Culpable Driving - Mock Trial for Year 10's (National Trust)

The National Trust of Victoria's new Culpable Driving Court Room Drama looks at the case of a young man, Kim Tran, who was charged with culpable driving in the County Court. The case is based on a real case, but names, dates and details have been changed to maintain the confidentiality of the original participants. This program includes new video projections and an updated script. This courtroom drama was launched in February 2016 and was funded by a grant from the Victoria Law Foundation.

Excursion

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County Court fact sheets

14 fact sheets covering a broad range of the County Court's work. Each directly responds to the VCE Legal Studies curriculum.

Resource Hub

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County Court Civil case scenario video - Introduction

This series tracks the progress of a civil law matter involving a workplace injury. It introduces key stakeholders in the civil courtroom.

Video

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Constitutional Referendum Brochure

This brochure provides an outline of the referendum process, how Australia is a federation of states and has a national parliament. It includes a complete list of all referendums, and their outcomes, to date.

Handout

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Civil Juries Charge Book

A comprehensive resource to aid in researching the elements, defences, and origins of a civil offence

Report

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Who Really Decides? Rethinking Australia’s Treaty Powers and the Constitution

Contains a summary of the most important cases on the external affairs power and how it is used to implement international treaty obligations (paragraphs 5.3-5.61); summary of the extent of the Commonwealth's external affairs power (paragraphs 5.62-5.65)

Report

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Bringing Them Home: a movie about the stolen generation

Help students understand the issues surrounding the forcible removal of Indigenous people in Australian history.

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Case note: Monis v The Queen

Summary of the decision in Monis v The Queen

Case Study

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