The Art of Delivering Justice

The Art of Delivering Justice is a project of the Federal Court of Australia which has been designed to support education about law and justice in Australian secondary schools. These innovative curriculum materials support student learning in Studies of Society and Environment, English, the Arts and also in Legal Studies and Civics.

The Art of Delivering Justice book is a resource for teaching and learning about how the system of law and justice operates in Australia. By examining the work of the Federal Court, teachers and students explore the evolution and sources of Australian law, the interconnections between the courts, parliaments and governments, and the principles of justice that underpin the justice system.

The book has three sections:

1. a Teacher Guide provides essential background information about the legal system and advice to teachers
2. the Lower Secondary Unit, In Defence of Human Rights, engages students in the human rights area of Australian law and explores a case study of disability discrimination heard by the Federal Court
3. the Middle Secondary Unit, A Case of Native Title, develops students' understanding of this new area of Australian law and focuses on the Federal Court's native title jursidiction. It explores the origins and evolution of native title law and then presents a case study that follows a native title application from the eastern Kimberley region of northern Australia

Features of the resources include:

• structured and sequenced learning activities
• reproducible materials for student use
• role-play and art activities to extend learning
• case studies and judgements from the Federal Court

An accompanying video documents the work of the Federal Court and illuminates the case studies of the units.

The Art of Delivering Justice video opens with the public face of the Federal Court in the media. Then, under the guidance of the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, students enter the real world of the Court and its many jurisdictions.

Using a series of recent case studies, the program explores where laws come from, how the courts apply the law and how the work of the Federal Court can profoundly affect the lives of all Australians.

In particular the video focuses on the Federal Court's jurisdictions in human rights and native title law and features case studies on discrimination and native title.

The Art of Delivering Justice book and video complement and link to the Discovering Democracy materials.