Year 12 Legal Studies visit to Canberra

To wrap up their HSC studies, the Year 12 Legal Studies classes were treated to one last night at Tallong before spending the day in Canberra.

Beginning with a visit to the High Court of Australia, students were reminded about the various roles of our highest court in interpreting Australia’s Constitution, making judgements on Constitutional breaches and hearing appeals from the states’ highest courts. They were also able to sit in on a High Court trial to see this process in action.

From there, they travelled over to Parliament House for a private meeting with the Federal Member for Reid, Sally Sitou, who shared some of her experiences (and challenges) of working in Parliament House as well as her endeavours to represent the interests of her electorate, Australian women and her political party.

The trip ended with a visit to Question Time in the House of Representatives where the students witnessed firsthand what an onlooking journalist described as ‘question time chaos’. If the vibrant discussion on the bus ride home was anything to go by, the trip not only consolidated their understanding of the workings of the Australian Legal System, but also further inspired many of the students to pursue studies and careers that will allow them to be leaders in the decision-making processes that work towards a more just, fair and equitable society. 

Kate Corcoran and Alec Robertson