What to expect

308 La Trobe Street Melbourne venue

On this page

Before you arrive

What you can bring

All of our venues have the same rules for how to prepare for a hearing and what you bring.

How to get ready for your hearing

Everyone who comes to our venues goes through a security screening process. This helps keep everyone safe by stopping entry of items that could cause injury to another person.

What you can’t bring

Please carefully review the list of items you can’t bring:

  • food or drinks – there are vending machines inside the venue
  • any sharp object, including cutlery
  • alcohol or illegal substances
  • tools
  • glass bottles
  • weapons
  • lighters
  • pets.

Bringing others for support

You can bring someone with you for support. This support person could be anyone you choose, including a friend or family member.

If you're attending a hearing, your support person can’t usually speak on your behalf, but they can help explain what you need. For example, your support person can help ask for a break.

When you arrive

Entrance and way out

Our entrance is at 308 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000.

The way out is through the same entrance at 308 La Trobe Street.

Safety and security

To enter our venue, you will have to go through a security screening.

We also have full-time security officers throughout the venue and duress alarms in all hearing rooms.

Photography and filming

We have rules about what devices you can use at our venues and in hearings.

Photography and filming information for the general public

Photography and filming information for media representatives

Get help

If you need help on the day of your visit, you can speak to staff at:

  • the service counter of the ground floor
  • the reception counters on levels 21 and 22.

Find a hearing

To find a hearing, you will have to:

  • arrive at the 308 La Trobe Street venue
  • go through security
  • find your hearing on the hearing schedule screens or interactive kiosk
  • take a lift to the hearing location.

The hearing schedule screens are displayed just past our security screening and on levels 19 to 22.

While you wait

Each level has a public waiting area with hearing schedule screens.

There are also other services you can access while waiting.

Level 20

You can find our wellbeing lounge - room 20.8.

Level 21

You can find:

  • Victoria Legal Aid - room 21.8
  • a parent’s room - room 21.10
  • Court Network - room 21.12
  • a child friendly area - underneath and around the inter-level stairs.

Level 22

You can find:

  • Office of the Public Advocate room 22.10
  • State Trustees - room 22.11
  • a quiet room - room 22.14.

After a hearing

Document collection

In your hearing, the member may direct you to collect documents.

If you need to collect a document, please visit the reception counters on levels 21 or 22, or the ground level service counter. 

Legal help and support

We can’t give you legal advice, but there are other organisations that may help.

Find organisations that may help