Parliamentary role-play
About our role-plays
This interactive activity allows students to experience the law-making process firsthand while they take on the roles of Speaker, Clerk, Serjeant-at-Arms, Premier, Leader of the Opposition and other members of Parliament.
We currently offer role plays for students in grades 5/6 and VCE Legal Studies.
Our role-play sessions have been designed to align with the Victorian curriculum.
Role-play topics for grades 5/6
We have a number of different topics for role-plays that we will ask your students to vote on during the session.
Currently the topics are:
- Cattle Grazing Bill
- Mobile Phone Bill
- Plastic Straws Bill
- Gambling Advertising Bill.
You can also prepare your own topic with your class by following these instructions:
Role-play topics for VCE Legal Studies
We use real bills that have been passed through the Parliament as case studies to show how the Parliament makes laws.
At the time of booking, you will be asked to choose one of the following bills:
- Crimes Amendment (Bullying) Bill 2011 (Brodie’s Law)
- Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Bill 2014 (known as the Sexting Bill)*
- Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017*
- Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Medically Supervised Injecting Centre) Bill 2017*.
*These bills are examples of law reform coming from a Parliamentary committee inquiry.
Locations
We run role plays inside the Parliament building on non-sitting weeks.
If you are in Metropolitan Melbourne, we can visit your school to run a role-play in the classroom. Check availability and booking details.
We also visit regional destinations and run our role-plays from a local venue. For more information on the locations we will be visiting this year, check our regional visits schedule.
Make a booking
To make a booking, call or email our tours booking office.
Phone: (03) 9651 8568
Email: tours@parliament.vic.gov.au
Details
Contact
To discuss your school's needs, contact our Tours and Customer Service Unit.
Phone: (03) 9651 8568
Email: tours@parliament.vic.gov.au
Address
Parliament House
Spring Street
East Melbourne Victoria 3002
Getting here
Tours depart from the Vestibule, located inside the main building entrance on Spring Street.
Public transport
By train: exit Parliament station at Bourke Street.
By tram:
- route 35 – stop 0 (Spring St/ Bourke St)
- routes 86, 96 – stop 9 (Bourke St/Spring St).
Parking/bus drop-off
There is no public parking at Parliament House.
There is a bus drop off area on Spring Street.
Security
Visitors to Parliament House are required to pass through a security checkpoint before entering the building. This involves a walk-through scanner and baggage scanning. Visitors with pacemakers should ask to be scanned using handheld scanners.
Bags must be left at reception when taking part in a tour or sitting in the public galleries.
Items you cannot bring to Parliament
The following items are not permitted at Parliament:
- weapons
- any types of blades (e.g. Swiss army knives, lock knives, eating utensils), hooks, scissors and other sharps
- liquids over 100ml and glass bottles (except water)
- any alcohol
- 'selfie' camera sticks and camera tripods
- chains and padlocks
- voice recorders, two-way radios and speakers
- handcuffs
- any tools (e.g. screwdrivers, multi-tools, bike tools, measuring tapes, metal rulers)
- helmets (e.g. bicycle and motorcycle)
- whistles
- permanent markers
- aerosols
- jet lighters
- long umbrellas
- balls and balloons
- signs or placards
- studded belts.
Any of the above items will be held by security for the duration of your visit. They will be returned when you leave or may be confiscated permanently in some cases.
More information
If you have any accessibility needs or concerns with security screening, please email security.team@parliament.vic.gov.au or call us on (03) 8682 2980 ahead of time so we can accommodate your visit.
Accessibility
Accessible entrance
People with a mobility or physical disability can access Parliament House through the rear entrance on Macarthur Street.
Map
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets are located on the ground level and level one.
Audio loop
Audio loops are available in the chambers. These can be used in conjunction with hearing aids.
Wheelchair
A courtesy wheelchair is available for visitors attending tours. Please note that we are unable to provide staff to push wheelchairs.
Contact
For any enquiries regarding disability access and inclusion please email disabilityaccess@parliament.vic.gov.au
Vaccination requirement
It is a requirement of entry to Parliament House for all persons aged 18 and over to either:
- have received their first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses
or - have written certification from a medical practitioner of a valid exception.
All visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination or an exception to staff before they are granted entry to Parliament House.
For more information, read our COVID Safe Plan.