The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre (SZCC) provides training and research opportunities for the legal sector, including courts and tribunals staff.
In 2015, the Courts and Tribunals Academy was launched by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Honourable Marilyn Warren.
The Courts and Tribunals Academy provides:
The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre (SZCC) at Victoria University has been awarded an Australia Research Council (ARC) grant for an Intergenerational Oral History of the Koori Courts (Ngarnga Nanggit).
The purpose of the project is to investigate how the establishment of Indigenous courts – where Elders preside with judicial officers, bringing their cultural knowledge to bear on sentencing – has been a major justice system reform. This timely oral history, recording the experiences of key stakeholders, will demonstrate how the justice system can respond to cultural needs while preserving principles of fairness in sentencing. This legacy project will creatively document a critical turning point in Aboriginal self-determination.
The project will record the creation of an innovative culturally appropriate response to the over-representation of Indigenous people in custody. It will also document the turning point in Aboriginal, legal and Australian history, and a showcase of an inclusive justice system.
A major outcome of the research will be a touring exhibition including video interviews with Elders and significant key players involved in the establishment and expansion of the Koori courts in Victoria.
The SZCC is working in partnership with the Koori Unit at Court Services Victoria on this multi-disciplinary project. It will involve young Aboriginal scholars meeting and interviewing Elders and respected persons about the establishment of, and the significant moments in, the history of the Koori courts.
The project will:
Applications for the postgraduate scholarships have now closed.
PhD and masters degree project-based scholarships may become available in 2023:
Undergraduate students now have the opportunity to undertake Work Integrated Learning placements on the project as part of their work-integrated learning assessments in 2021-2023.
Post graduate students in filmmaking and exhibition curatorial management are also encouraged to apply for the research assistant roles and postgraduate project placements.
Please contact the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for more information, or see further information in the 'Undergraduate & Post Graduate Student Placement Opportunities' section.
A number of opportunities exist for Indigenous Australian undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in an Australian university to undertake a work placement as part of a significant and multi-disciplinary research project.
Indigenous Australian Students: Indigenous Australian tertiary students are invited to lodge an Expression Of Interest (EOI) for workplace learning opportunities (eg WIL) to join the research team for parts of the project from 2021 to 2023.
Senior undergraduate or postgraduate Indigenous Australian students currently enrolled in the following disciplines are encouraged to apply:
Complete the expression of interest form.
For more information including Placement Descriptions email the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at [email protected].
The project will be guided by an expert Advisory Board and Steering Committee:
Advisory Board members:
Secretariat:
Chief Investigator for this project is:
Co-Investigators:
We focus on how innovation can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of courts and tribunals.
The Hon Kenneth Hayne AC QC delivered the 2020 Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Oration online on the topic ‘Trust, confidence and public institutions’ on Wednesday 5 August 2020.
Our thought leadership events feature national and international experts.
Join us to debate, learn and discuss timely issues for courts and tribunals and the wider legal sector.
Royal Commissions Public Lecture. Left to right: Prof David Weisbrot AM, the Hon. Marcia Neave AO, the Hon. Bernard Teague AO and Adjunct Prof Alan Kohler
We offer executive & continuing education for legal professionals. Advance your professional knowledge at our expert masterclasses without the need to enrol in a formal degree.
Sentencing Theory and Practice Masterclass
Facilitated by Emeritus Professor Arie Freiberg, Chair of the Victorian and Tasmanian Sentencing Advisory Councils.
To find out more and express your interest in attending the masterclass, contact [email protected].
We have previously delivered masterclasses on Online Dispute Resolution and Technology Teams in Modern Courts and Tribunals, run by international experts.
In 2019, we delivered our inaugural Masterclass for Government Investigators to over 70 investigators from 13 regulatory agencies.
