Recognising volunteers of the Court Education Program and Court Network.
Judges and Court staff have celebrated the vital contribution of volunteers who operate across the Court. At an event on Friday 24 May, volunteers from the Court Education Program and Court Network were presented with certificates of acknowledgment and badges by Court Network Liaison Officer Meghan O’Connor and Education and Engagement Officer Christina Varcoe, to thank them for their service.
The annual event is an opportunity for the Court’s volunteers to connect with each other and with Supreme Court judges who attend.
Justice Richard Niall spoke on the importance of volunteers to the Court. “The Court Networkers’ support for those attending court is vital, and the Education Program would not function the way that it does without the dedicated team of volunteers on the ground,” his Honour said.
About the Court Education Program
The Supreme Court’s Education Program offers sessions for VCE Legal Studies students to learn about the Court and observe courtroom proceedings. The program runs during school terms and relies upon the time and expertise of volunteer Supreme Court staff and judicial officers who present the work of the Court to young legal minds.
As part of the Supreme Court’s Law Week 2024 activities the volunteers helped host a special event where more than 60 Year 11 students from Hume Central Secondary College met with Justice Rita Incerti, and two judge’s associates, to hear about her Honour's background and her pathway to becoming a judge. The students also had a chance to ask an insightful range of questions about everything from the Supreme Court building to how a judge approaches sentencing.
To learn more visit the Court Education Program.
About Court Network
Court Network is a community organisation that provides non-legal support for people who are engaging with the court system.
Court Network volunteers, known as Networkers, offer services for those who may feel vulnerable, or who may be attending court for the first time, and are unfamiliar with court processes.
Court Network occupies space within the Supreme Court for supporting Court users. Court Network volunteers also provide support by:
- arranging pre-trial court tours to help users become familiar with the court environment
- providing non-aligned, non-judgemental and confidential emotional and practical support before, during, and after a court appearance.
Networkers play an integral role in ensuring access to justice and provide information and referrals to other services, such as family violence services, victim support, housing, mental health and community legal centres.