For families coming to court for a hearing
Some reportable deaths require a court hearing or inquest. Hearings may be attended in person at the court or online. Should the passing of your loved one require a court hearing, the following information may assist you and your family.
Getting to court
The Coroners Court of Victoria (the Court) is located at 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC 3006.
There is limited metred parking around the Court on Kavanagh Street and Moore Street.
The Court can be reached by public transportation, including by train to Flinders Street Station, the No. 1 tram to Sturt Street or the 216, 219, 220 and 605 bus services stopping at Southbank Boulevard.
You can find more information and directions here.
Security
To provide a safe and secure facility, all people attending the Court must pass through a security check at the main entrance foyer. When you arrive at the Court, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector and the security officers may ask you to open your bags to confirm no prohibited items are brought into the Court.
Taking care of yourself during a court hearing
During hearings the facts and circumstances of a death are revisited and examined by a coroner. Hearing the details of a loved-one’s death in this context can be very difficult.
You are welcome to bring a support person with you on the day – you can also find information about the impact of exposure to trauma and self-care here.
You can also find a list of support services and resources here.
The family rooms
The Coroners Court has two family rooms available for people to use at any time during a hearing. In the family rooms, you will find a small fridge as well as tea and coffee making facilities. You will also have the option of watching court proceedings from the family rooms. Please Contact the Family Liaison Team or Yirramboi Murrup Unit (Aboriginal Engagement Unit) to discuss availability of the family rooms.
Support available at court
Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) work at the Court supporting families to understand court processes. You can call the Court on 1300 309 519 and request to speak to a FLO or email FLO@courts.vic.gov.au
The Yirramboi Murrup Unit - Aboriginal Engagement Unit (YMU) consists of Aboriginal team members and is here to support to provide support to families and community following the passing of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. You can contact the YMU any time on (03) 8685 1157 or by email at caeu@courts.vic.gov.au
Court Network Support - Court Network is a free, confidential community service provided by volunteers. Speak to a FLO or the YMU about having Court Networkers available in court to support you on the day. If you prefer, you can self-refer or read more about the Court Network here.
Who will be in the court
Many people may be present in the Court for a hearing or inquest, depending on the circumstances of the case. A coroner will preside over the hearing from the bench at the front of the court room. There is likely to be a number of legal professionals present, along with friends and family, witnesses, interested parties and, potentially, media. Hearings are generally open to the public.
You can find out more information here.
Court etiquette
When attending Court, there are some rules everyone must follow. An outline of court etiquette and rules can be found here.
Online Hearings
Court hearings often proceed in person, online or a hybrid of both. You can let the Court know if you would prefer to attend a hearing online rather than in person. The Court uses program called WebEx to stream online hearings.
Information on online hearings can be found here.
Types of Hearings
After an inquest
Following receipt of all evidence and submissions, the coroner will work on finalising the matter with written findings.
When finalised,the finding might be read at a hearing or will be sent as a written finding. A copy will be sent to senior next of kin, interested parties and sometimes, to media.
Findings made following an inquest are generally published here on the Court's website.