The Judiciary is made up of several courts and tribunals.
Their role is to:
The Supreme Court:
The County Court:
The Magistrates’ Court:
The Children’s Court:
The Coroners Court
All judges and magistrates are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the government of the day. However, they can't be removed by the government. They can only be removed by Parliament.
The Victorian court system does not operate in isolation from the Federal Court system. Appeals from Supreme Court decisions can be made to the High Court of Australia.
Read more at courts.vic.gov.au.
Tribunals resolve a broad range of disputes. They are usually less formal than courts.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hears and settles disputes on matters including:
VCAT decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Victoria, but only on questions of law.
The Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) provides financial assistance to victims of violent crime committed in Victoria.
Read more at courts.vic.gov.au.
The courts and VOCAT are part of the criminal justice system. Other public sector bodies within the criminal justice system, such as the Office of Public Prosecutions and Victoria Police, are separate from the judiciary.
Read more at opp.vic.gov.au and police.vic.gov.au.