In a mainstream court, the Judge or Magistrate will sit behind a large bench at the front, the lawyers will sit at the bar table and the accused child/young person will sit either in the dock or in the public seating area behind their lawyer.
In the Koori Court things are different; here everyone sits around a large oval table. This is done to encourage the child/young person to speak for themselves and to also have the Elders and respected Community members have their say. This is done to support the child/young person in finding the best solution for their particular situation and to create a less threatening environment.
In the Koori Court, everyone sits around a large oval-shaped table as reflected below:
