Noosa District State High School Year 12 social and community studies’ students attended the Queensland Supreme Court on Friday 24 June to further their knowledge and understanding of the Australian legal system.
The students met with Hon Justice Debra Mullins who spoke about her role in the Supreme Court of Queensland and answered the students’ questions regarding the court process and the cases she has presided over.
A highlight for the students was courtroom visits where the justice system played out before their eyes in both civil and criminal trials and sentencing.
Year 12 student Isabella Higgs found it surprising that many of the criminals who were sentenced had many prior convictions.
“These people obviously aren’t learning their lesson. It’s sad that some people just keep making the same mistakes over and over,” Isabella said.
Year 12 student Tarni Fitzpatrick also found it hard to understand why people with children committed crimes.
“I guess, in the moment, many don’t consider the consequences of their actions on those who love and care about you,” Tarni said.
The students found the excursion to be very worthwhile for their upcoming assessment on Australian Indigenous incarceration, as well as building on their own understandings of how society functions and operates.
