DVD Resources

What do politicians actually do when they’re not at Parliament House? What’s the difference between a Bill and a law? What is a Westminster tradition? These questions and others are asked by students and answered by the politicians themselves. Inside Parliament shows students how the Victorian Parliament works and how they can get involved and have their say.

Come inside Parliament House and meet the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President of the Legislative Council.  Explore what happens inside the chambers every day and meet two Victorian MPs who explain what their jobs are all about.

Inside Parliament Years 5-7 version, VELS 4/5

Chapter 1 Welcome to Parliament
Chapter 2 How Does a Bill Become Law?
Chapter 3 What is a Presiding Officer?
Chapter 4 How Are Decisions Made in Parliament?
Chapter 5 What Do Politicians Actually Do?
Chapter 6 What Are the Westminster Traditions?
Chapter 7 How Can I Have My Say?

 

Total running time 25.16 minutes

Inside Parliament Years 7-10 version, VELS 5/6

Chapter 1 Welcome to ParliamentChapter 2 How Does a Bill Become Law?
Chapter 3 What is a Presiding Officer?
Chapter 4 How Are Decisions Made in Parliament?
Chapter 5 What Do Politicians Actually Do?
Chapter 6 What Are the Westminster Traditions?
Chapter 7 How Can I Have My Say?

 

Total running time 26 minutes

Copies of these DVDs have been sent to all primary and secondary schools and public libraries in Victoria.  If you are unable to access these, please contact the Education and Community Engagement Unit to order a free copy.

Phone:  (03) 8682 2655
Email:  educationinfo@parliament.vic.gov.au

Inside Parliament Adult Education version

In this accessible DVD, adult students raise issues about parliamentary government and politicians explain how things work. Inside Parliament shows students the Victorian Parliament in action, and how they can get involved and have their say.

What do politicians actually do when they’re not at Parliament House? What’s the difference between a Bill and a Law? What democratic traditions did we inherit from the Westminster system?

Come inside Parliament House and meet the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President of the Legislative Council.  Explore what happens inside the chambers every day and meet two Victorian MPs who explain what their jobs are all about.

Teachers’ notes, including sample activities, are enclosed with this DVD.

Extensive activities around the DVD are included in the ESL Workbook and the Adult Literacy and Numeracy workbook.

Making the Law VCE Legal Studies

Making the Law satisfies the requirements of VCE Legal Studies Unit 3: Making and Changing the Law. It explores the legislative process: how laws are made by our elected representatives in the Parliament of Victoria.

This DVD explores the legislative process. If follows a junior reporter as he tracks a bill from its inception through Cabinet and both houses of Parliament to signing by the Governor to become a law, or an Act of Parliament.

Each person we meet on the journey explains how their input contributes directly to the legislative process: the Premier, Leader of the Opposition, a Minister (the Attorney General in this instance), and the Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. A retired Supreme Court judge describes the role of the Victorian Law Reform Commission and comments on the drafting process, and a senior lecturer in politics at Monash University offers extra insight to contextualise the process along the way.

Copies of this DVD have been sent to all secondary schools and public and tertiary libraries in Victoria. If you are unable to access these, please contact the Education and Community Engagement Unit to order a free copy.

Phone:  (03) 8682 2655
Email:  educationinfo@parliament.vic.gov.au

This DVD is supplemented by the pamphlet How a Law is Made (pdf,403.29 Kb)

 

From Westminster to Spring St  VCE International Studies, Legal Studies and History

From Westminster to Spring St has been produced for an adult audience and is suitable for upper secondary and tertiary students. It provides useful background for students of VCE International Politics: Unit 3, VCE Legal Studies: Unit 3 and VCE History: Unit 3.

This DVD outlines the evolution of Victoria’s system of government. It covers the historical factors in the development of Victoria’s Westminster influenced system as it operates today. It looks at the role of the Governor and the idea of ‘responsible’ or accountable government as it applies to the interaction of the legislative and executive branches.

We meet some voters who discuss how individuals can interact with Government and ensure their voices are being heard. There are interviews with Governor David de Kretser, historian Dr Ray Wright, Chair of Parliamentary Democracy at Swinburne University, Prof Brian Costar, and Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services Dr Stephen O’Kane.

Copies of this DVD have been sent to all secondary schools and public libraries in Victoria.  If you are unable to access these, please contact the Education and Community Engagement Unit to order a free copy.

Phone:  (03) 8682 2655
Email:  educationinfo@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

Print Resources

Inside the Parliament of Victoria.  This 36 page booklet covers all aspects of Victoria’s Parliament, including its place in our state and federal systems of government.  Suitable for Primary and Secondary students, and can be downloaded from the Primary and Secondary resources area of this site.

A set of four posters introducing the Members of the Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly,  Members Born Overseas and Victorian Electorates.

Primary and secondary workbooks. A resource for Years 5/6-10 students who are visting Parliament, receiving a Parliamentary Instruction Talk (PIT) or a visit from a Member of Parliament. Also stands alone as a classroom resource.

How a Law is Made in Victoria .  A pamphlet that supplements the Making the Law DVD.  Resources suitable for VCE students

The following two activity books can be downloaded from the Adult Education resources area.

A 220 page activity book  Adult Literacy & Numeracy Education Program. 

A 216 page book of activities ESL Materials for Teaching Adult Learners 

 

Contact the Education and Community Engagement Unit to order any of these resources

Phone:  (03) 8682 2655
Email:  educationinfo@parliament.vic.gov.au 

 

Last Updated on Friday, 20 April 2012