Court Room Dramas

This significant heritage building offers students an engaging and revealing insight into past and contemporary legal process.

Learn through re-enacting an authentic trial and taking the roles of prosecutor, defence counsel, judge, offender, jury, witnesses and public gallery members. All sessions are run by trained facilitators using one of four fully-scripted trials.

This is a one hour mock trial held in the Former Magistrates Court building at the Old Melbourne Gaol Precinct.

Call 03 9656 9889 to book or email bookings@nattrust.com.au for more information.

Court Room Dramas

Numbers:15 - 30 students
Time availability:
(50min duration)
9.45am – 10.45am 
11am – 12pm 
12.15pm – 1.15pm 
1.30pm – 2.30pm 
2.45pm – 3.45pm 
Location:377 Russell Street, Melbourne
Cost:$12.00 per student. Different prices for After Hours & Early sessions (Teachers free at ratio of 1:12)
$13.00 for ESL / Tertiary Students
Bookings:Online Booking Form or Email bookings@nattrust.com.au
Year Levels:Respect Me (Sexting) - Yr 7+
Elizabeth Scott - Yr 5+
Ned Kelly - Yr 5+
Culpable Driving - Yr 10+

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Court Room Dramas

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Court Room Drama themes

Culpable Driving Trial

Based on real events, students examine the case of a promising young man who killed two friends in a crash whilst ‘hooning’. The circumstances of the crash and the impact of the ‘culpable driving’ charge on his life are explored. Recommended for Year level 9 and above.

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Elizabeth Scott

Elizabeth Scott was tried and executed for the murder of her husband in Victoria in 1863. Examine the case against the attitudes of the time and discuss whether she received a fair trial. Recommended for Year 5 and above.

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Ned Kelly trial

Did Australia’s most infamous bushranger receive a fair trial in 1880? Was it justice or judicial might that determined the outcome? Kelly's trial is historically significant not just because of the infamy of the accused but also the legal twists and turns in the case. Recommended for Year 5 and above

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Respect Me trial

Examining the legislation and issues around misuse of social media and smartphones for young people. The trial involves a 16 year old boy, his 14 year old girlfriend and the impact of sexting on their lives and the legal process that applies to teenagers. Recommended for Year 7 and above.

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Try our 3D Interactive Courtroom

An online resource for students, teachers and everyone to experience. Can be accessed from your school or at home.

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Victorian Curriculum Links - Court Room Dramas

Civics and CitizenshipLevel 5 and 6Levels 7 and 8Levels 9 and 10
All Court Room DramasExplain how and why laws are enforced and describe the roles and responsibilities of key personnel in law enforcement, and in the legal system (VCCCL013)Explain how Australia’s legal system aims to provide justice, including through the rule of law, presumption of innocence, burden of proof, right to a fair trial and right to legal representation (VCCCL022)Discuss the key principles of Australia’s justice system, including equality before the law, independent judiciary, and right of appeal(VCCCL034)

Explain how Australia’s international legal obligations shape Australian law and government policies, including in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCCCL032)

Describe the key features of Australia’s court system, including jurisdictions and how courts apply and interpret the law, resolve disputes and make law through judgments, and describe the role of the High Court in interpreting the Constitution (VCCCL033)

HistoryLevel 5 and 6Level 7 and 8Level 9 and 10
'Ned Kelly'
and
'Elizabeth Scott'
The stories and perspectives of people who migrated to Australia, including from one Asian country, and the reasons they migrated (VCHHK095)

Describe perspectives and identify ideas, beliefs and values of people and groups in the past (VCHHC084)
Historical significance

The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping and changing a colony (VCHHK092)
Analyse and corroborate sources and ask questions about their accuracy, usefulness and reliability(VCHHC099)

Analyse the different perspectives of people in the past (VCHHC100)

Explain different historical interpretations and contested debates about the past (VCHHC101)

Analyse the causes and effects of significant events that caused change and/or a decline over the period(VCHHC103)

Analyse the different perspectives of people in the past and evaluate how these perspectives are influenced by significant events, ideas, location, beliefs and values (VCHHC124)

Evaluate different historical interpretations and contested debates (VCHHC125)

Evaluate the historical significance of an event, idea, individual or place (VCHHC128)
Intercultural CapabilityYear 9 and 10
'Koori Court'Identify and analyse the challenges and benefits of living and working in an interconnected and culturally diverse world (VCICCD019)

Analyse the ways in which intercultural relationships and experiences have contributed to the development of attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, and how they are manifested in various contexts (VCICCB018)
Personal and Social CapabilitiesLevel 7 and 8Level 9 and 10
'Respect Me'
and
'Culpable Driving'
Recognise the impact of personal boundaries, intimacy, distribution of power and social and cultural norms and mores on the ways relationships are expressed (VCPSCSO040)

Describe how and why emotional responses may change in difference contexts (VCPSCSE034)

Describe how and why emotional responses may change in difference contexts (VCPSCSE034)

Recognise the impact of personal boundaries, intimacy, distribution of power and social and cultural norms and mores on the ways relationships are expressed (VCPSCSO040)
Investigate personal, social and cultural factors that influence the ability to
experience positive and respectful relationships and explore the rights and
responsibilities of individuals in relationships
(VCPSCSO049)

Analyse the significance of independence and individual responsibility in the completion of challenging tasks (VCPSCSE045)

Evaluate emotional responses and the management of emotions in a range of cont4exts (VCPSCSE043)

Analyse the significance of independence and individual responsibility in the completion of challenging tasks (VCPSCSE045)

Evaluate behaviours and protective factors that contribute to the development of confidence, adaptability and self-reflection (VCPSCSE046)
EnglishLevel 5Level 6Level 7Level 8Level 9Level 10
All Court Room DramasParticipate in informal debates and plan, rehearse and deliver presentations for defined audiences and purposes incorporating accurate and sequenced content and multimodal elements (VCELY338)Participate in formal and informal debates and plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements for defined audiences and purposes, making appropriate choices for modality and emphasis (VCELY367)Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements to promote a point of view or enable a new way of seeing, using body language, voice qualities and other elements to add interest and meaning
(VCELY396)
Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content, including multimodal elements, to reflect a diversity of viewpoints, using voice and language conventions to suit different situations, modulating voice and incorporating elements for specific effects(VCELY427)Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements for aesthetic and playful purposes (VCELY456)
Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements to influence a course of action, speaking clearly and using logic, imagery and rhetorical devices in order to engage audiences (VCELY486)
'Respect Me'Understand the way language evolves to reflect a changing world, particularly in response to the use of new technology for presenting texts and communicating (VCELA391)Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (VCELT462)
'Culpable Driving'Explore the ways that ideas and viewpoints in literary texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts may reflect or challenge the values of individuals and groups (VCELT403)Interpret and compare how representations of people and culture in literary texts are drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT435)Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (VCELT462)
'Ned Kelly'
and
'Elizabeth Scott'
Understand the uses of objective and subjective language and bias (VCELA364)Explore the ways that ideas and viewpoints in literary texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts may reflect or challenge the values of individuals and groups (VCELT403)Interpret and compare how representations of people and culture in literary texts are drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT435)Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (VCELT462)

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