Transcript Renewing the Melbourne Children's Court (PPT, 4183.5 KB

Court Services
Renewing the Melbourne Children's Court
Presenter: Jenny Devine
Title:
Senior Project Manager
Date:
4th October 2013
TRIM ID: CD/xx/xxxxx
Court Services
477 Little lonsdale Street, Melbourne
1. Children’s
Court of Victoria
2
2. Children’s
Court
Conference Unit
3. Melbourne
Magistrates
Court
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3
4. Supreme
Court of Victoria
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5. County Court
Victoria
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Original Brief
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December 1999 The Melbourne Children's court opened a purpose built
court at 477 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne.
$15 million development.
3 storey building.
Seven Courtrooms (4 Family Division and 3 Criminal Division) Based on
openness accessibility and respect.
Divided in half clearly separating young people attending court for
alleged criminal offences and those attending for alleged protective
issues.
Simple non threatening design.
State of the art technology.
Natural light to the public waiting spaces and foyer areas.
Private courtyards and external play areas for children.
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Original Brief
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Secure welfare facility.
Children’s Court Clinic with a separate entrance.
The holding facility contains 7 cells (5 juvenile and 2 adult cells)
Provides natural light and courtyard views for young people held in
custody.
2 new courts were fitted out a few years ago bringing the total to 9
courts.
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Art work – By Children for Children
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Artwork donated by the Melbourne University Early Learning Centre.
It is rotated every couple of years.
Reminds us why we are there and the purpose of the facility.
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Change in needs
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Melbourne's family demographic has grown dramatically over the past
decade.
A spike in investigations and orders over the past three years.
With a 13% increase in protection orders in Victoria over the past year.
The legal children’s age rose from 17 to18 in Victoria which increased
the demand on the courts.
Number of magistrates and support staff required for the courts has
doubled since its original design.
Different requirements as technology changes. Remote witness rooms.
IT servers.
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Change in needs
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In 2012 Conferencing moved to 5/426 Lonsdale Street. Provided more
space at 477 Lonsdale Street.
Changes in processes now require more DHS and support staff. Court
network and salvation army also require more spaces.
Cases are also taking longer to resolve.
In 2013 Victoria's Vulnerable Children - Our Shared responsibility
Strategy was released and identified the need for more support spaces
and services for children.
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Pressures on the current Design
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The site is land locked and has a relatively inflexible design.
The amount of open spaces in the foyer and public waiting areas take a
large proportion of the footprint.
There are not enough spaces for staff, support groups and legal
representatives.
Original design split the building 50:50 but now there are more custodial
cases with many more legal and support people required.
Now there are many more cases than the space was originally designed
for.
Courtyards. In February 2013, the Minister for Health announced his
intention to amend the Tobacco Act 1987 (the Act) to ban smoking in
children’s playgrounds and around children.
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Current support space
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Designing Support spaces
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No signage
Located away from the accused
Safe passage to amenities away from
accused
Warm comforting safe environment
TV – locked children’s channels
Safe toys
Kitchenette
Comfy seating
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Designing the playroom
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Designing the playroom
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Designing the playroom
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Safe ,Friendly, Educational and
Durable
Mural either fish design, for
colours or counting or get a
street artist for more edgy but
designed educational as well
Colours - matching neutral floors
with bright coloured floor areas.
Grassy knoll – younger –
blackboard paint, sheltered, floor
play, toys
Adult / children's table – outdoor
hardy, durable, fun
TV – protected, locked viewing
Hopscotch
Banquet seating
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The Way forward for design.
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More consultation with families and children.
More consultation with security designers. Working within design
guidelines. Designs being less “scary” but still safe.
More consultation with the judiciary. Discuss their spaces being “child
friendly”. Gaining more acceptance.
Study models that are breaking the mold. E.g. The Collingwood
Neighbourhood Justice Centre
Look at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for design ideas for
security, friendly and comforting spaces for distressed children
Study overseas models.
Cross “Departmental” design review teams for children's spaces, Courts,
Hospitals and School.
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Thank you for you time.
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