College Prospectus 2009

Cyberspace workshop

Workshops on cybercrime and online social networking are included in the 2009 Prospectus for Victoria’s judges, magistrates and tribunal members.
2009 saw the College publish Australia’s first judicial education prospectus,  setting out a full calendar of programs.  The Prospectus has 43 programs, ranging from tours of correctional facilities, workshops on new legislation and personal seminars on stress management and leadership.

College CEO, Lyn Slade said judicial officers faced new and evolving challenges every day. At the College, judicial education is not limited to the traditional weighty tomes of English legal philosophers Coke and Blackstone.
 
“There is certainly recognition among judicial officers that judicial practice is not immune from the impact of dramatic changes within society – whether legislative, technological or social,” she said. “Most of our program topics come from judicial officers themselves and our programs are very much ‘judge-led’.”  

The 2009 workshops on Cybercrime and Cyberspace aim to give judicial officers a working knowledge of social networking websites and other popular online resources.
“Keeping pace with a dynamic technological environment is an ongoing challenge,” Ms Slade said.

Judicial officers have participated in programs on Koori cultural awareness and this year a session on Sudanese culture and society.
“The Sudanese refugee community is one of the most significant entrant groups into the Victorian community,” Ms Slade said.
“It is vital that judicial officers who are interacting with members of the community in a courtroom or tribunal setting understand the settlement issues facing these people. “Responding to that need, we conducted a full-day workshop for judicial officers covering historical, religious, cultural and gender issues relating to the Sudanese community.”

Ms Slade puts the growth of the College down to its ability to offer courses with real value and relevance to judicial officers.
“We work in an environment steeped in tradition, combined with sensitive constitutional issues amid dynamic social change,” she said. “The College has built up a high level of trust and credibility and carved out our place, and that has much to do with the tremendous leadership of our Board.”

Related Downloads

• 2009 JCV Prospectus (PDF, 4.29 MB)