HUMANITIES

YEAR 12 LEGAL STUDIES STUDENTS MEET JUSTICE RITA INCERTI IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

On Friday 25 August, the Units 3 & 4 Legal Studies classes were lucky enough to go to the Supreme Court of Victoria, where we got to have our questions answered by Justice Rita Incerti, sit in on a trial, and tour the Supreme Court library. We were incredibly thankful for this experience, to the court staff for offering their insight, and to Ms D’Ambrosio for organising this event for us.

Ella Cairney 12B

The excursion to the Supreme Court - Trial Division was an extremely enriching experience that broadened our knowledge about the Australian court system, the legal personnel, and court proceedings. Talking to the Judge’s Associates, we learned about how there is not just one way to create a career pathway in law. There are so many different opportunities in this field and each has its own set of exciting areas which we could work within. I also enjoyed watching the trial unfold in person. Hearing witness statements and familiarising myself with court procedures and expectations was incredibly insightful and educational.

Ananya Jha 11F

This excursion was such a fantastic opportunity for us to consolidate our legal concepts as we got to hear from a Supreme Court Justice (Rita Incerti). We also listened to a real murder case, which opened our eyes. A quick tour around the biggest law library in the State was amazing, as we saw a book that is 600 years old.

Amanda Liu 12H

I learned that the path people take into working for the legal system is nonlinear because the judge who addressed us was a teacher prior to becoming a lawyer. Additionally, both the Judge’s Associates took alternative paths before they pursued a career in law. 

Furthermore, I learned about the mental trauma endured by court personnel (including Judges) due to hearing and seeing graphic and disturbing cases and thus recognizing how resilient individuals working in courts are.

Casandra Joseph 12G

Our trip to the Supreme Court was a very eye-opening experience as we got to see the Victorian Supreme Court in action by listening to a live court case which was a real eye-opener as it gave us an insight into how the court functions and operates.

We also had the opportunity to meet Justice Incerti who gave us an insight into her  experiences within the legal system.

George Farmakiotis 11D

The excursion to the Supreme Court was a memorable and pleasant experience where we got to learn a lot regarding the way courts work and their structure. Witnessing a real current ongoing trial gave us an eye-opening experience as to how trials are conducted and how legal representatives piece together the facts of a case. Furthermore, meeting with an experienced judge (Judge Incerti) helped us learn the internal workings of civil parties' emotions, workforce, resilience and also their valuable lessons. Overall, it was an honourable experience for us for both learning and personal experiences.

Rusha Shah 12K

I am extremely grateful for our visit to the Supreme Court - the opportunity to see a live court case in action was eye-opening, and very interesting to see the real-life dynamic of a courtroom. Despite not being able to see the defendant, seeing the Judge, his associates, the jury, the press, and the barristers & solicitors - provided a real-life insight into the actual application of the law that establishes their roles within the court.

Jessica Karpisek 12G

Sophie D’ambrosio

Legal Studies Teacher

POLITICS, WHY BOTHER?

On Tuesday 29 August, five young leaders from McKinnon attended a panel discussion on the theme ‘Politics, Why Bother? - Engaging Young People to Participate in Political Debate’. This was held at St Leonards College in Brighton East and was hosted by their school captains. 

The panellists were Ms Zoe Daniel MP, Mr James Newbury MP, Senator Sarah Henderson, Mr Josh Burns MP and Ms Meena Singh, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria. Key issues discussed included the Voice Referendum, integrity in politics and of course, the role of young people in politics today. Here are some reflections from our students who attended:

I’ve come to realise what a privilege it is to live in a democratic society, where everyone has the opportunity to have a say. Therefore, it’s a shame not to embrace this privilege by being well informed about our politicians and what their policies are. This way, when it’s time to cast our votes we are doing so with knowledge and open minds. 

Tilde Christrup 12C

It was really interesting to hear multiple perspectives from the different panellist members and allowed all of us to see the point of view of different sides and whether we agreed or disagreed with them. Hearing some of the arguments and conversations reminded and highlighted to me the importance of being a researched and informed voter, especially since the referendum will be affecting First Nations people, and not most of us who are voting. As people who are able to vote, I think it is most necessary to consider the weight and impacts of our vote on those who matter the most in this referendum.

Audrey Zhou 12N

As someone who has limited knowledge of politics, the panel gave me great insight into the importance of politics and how it affects all aspects of life. It was really interesting to hear from all panel members which enabled me to have a better understanding of topics such as the Voice referendum and the accessibility of education. 

Overall, the event made me realise how lucky we are in Australia to be able to have these political debates as a part of a democracy, which is why I encourage people to make their votes count and always ensure they consider both sides of any political debate. 

Ella Powell 12J

The coming together of people from different backgrounds and beliefs in a conversation on the current political issues we face is what the foundation of political discussions should truly be like. Through this, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the current political spectrum present in Australia, yet most importantly, why we, the younger generation, should care about it. It was an enlightening experience which implored me to get even more involved in politics and consider the crucial matters that undeniably impact me. 

Liah Gizbar 12E

It was so great to see a coming together of people; of schools and of families; to partake in this political discussion centred around the Voice. Despite my limited political knowledge, the clear, engaging and welcoming manner of the debate enabled me and so many others to feel capable of making an informed decision in the upcoming referendum. I encourage people, especially those in high school, to consider this vote as an opportunity to be an active and empowered member of our community. Thank you to all those involved for this eye-opening experience. 

Eliza Hackett-Smith 12E

As a teacher of Global Politics, it was so encouraging to see a large crowd of young people spending their time engaging in political discussion, and I was so proud of the insights of our students. Their depth of knowledge and passion is inspiring. 

I’d particularly like to recognise the initiative of Liah Gizbar (Year 12) for making connections with the school captains at St Leonards and organising a group of students from McKinnon to attend. A big thank you also to Ms Felmingham for her support.

William Lee

Politics & History Teacher