Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
Queen Street Campus
The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre forms part of the Victoria Law School. In partnership with the Cambridge University Board of Continuing Education, the Centre provides training, research and support to the government, judiciary, legal practitioners, court staff and other professions associated with the legal sector.
By working with a range of employers, practitioners and professional bodies we identify training needs and design programs and events to meet those needs.
The Centre is named in honour of Australia’s former Governor-General and distinguished legal academic, the late Sir Zelman Cowen.
On this page
Facilities
There are three rooms for hire at our Queen St premises. Potential clients can book these rooms for seminars, meetings, training courses or other functions.
Read more about Law facility hire and catering at the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre.
Courses
The following professional development courses are available through the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre:
Short courses:
Queen Street campus interior
- Professional Course in Executive Screen Production
- Introduction to Education Agent Practice
- Professional Course in Education Agent Practice
- Immigration Law - Continuing Professional Development
- Professional Course in Immigration Law
- Professional Course in New Zealand Immigration Law
- Mental Health First Aid
- Recognise and Respond to Elder Abuse
- Recognise, Respond to and Assess Elder Abuse
Award courses:
- Certificate IV in Business (Governance)
- Graduate Certificate in Australian Immigration Law and Practice
- Graduate Diploma in Immigration Law
- Graduate Certificate in Insurance Law and Practice
- Graduate Diploma in Commercial Arbitration (see the option for International students)
- Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice
- Master of Laws by research
- Doctor of Philosophy (Law)
For further information about courses, search our course finder.
Alternatively, you can email buslawcourses@vu.edu.au or contact one of the College of Law and Justice offices.
Academic staff
Following is information of course presenters for the Graduate Certificate in Immigration Law and Practice, and the Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice.
Graduate Certificate in Immigration Law and Practice
- Professor Rodger Fernandez
BEc, LLB (Monash), MTax (Melb), PhD (Syd), LIV Accredited Specialist (Immigration Law) - Murray Gerkens
LLB (Melb), GradCertAustImmLaw (VU) - Desiree Holland
LLB (Adelaide), GradCertAustImmLaw (ANU) - Chong Quaik
BEc, LLB (Mon), LL.M (Melb), LIV Accredited Specialist (Immigration Law) - Anastasia Vu
LLB (UCLA), MBA (Murdoch), GradCertAustImmLaw (VU) - Dominic Yau
BA (Melb), LLB (LaTrobe), GradCertAustImmLaw (VU)
Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice
- Professor Peter Zablud
Director of Notarial Studies, and Assessor - Phillip Hamilton
Associate Director of Notarial Studies
About Sir Zelman Cowen
Bronze bust of Sir Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen, AK GCMG GCVO QC, was one of Australia's most distinguished jurists. He was born in St Kilda in 1919, and studied law at Oxford University.
From 1951, he was Professor of Public Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Melbourne University. He was knighted in 1976 and appointed Governor-General of Australia in 1977.
In 1982, he became Provost of Oriel College Oxford in 1982 and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford in 1988. He also served as Chairman of the UK Press Council between 1983 and 1988.
In 1994, he accepted the positions of Distinguished Visiting Professor and Chair of the Victoria University Foundation. As Chair of the Foundation, he led the University's efforts in gaining philanthropic support for students in their studies, including contributions for prizes and scholarships. On retiring as Chair of the Foundation he agreed to continue his involvement by accepting an honorary appointment position as Inaugural Patron and remained a staunch friend of the University.
Sir Zelman passed away on 8 December 2011.
Contact us
Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
Level 2, City Queen Campus
Phone: +61 3 9919 1843
Email: cowen.centre@vu.edu.au