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. The role-play is conducted over 90 minutes and includes a short tour of Parliament House.
We offer free role plays for students in grades 5/6 and VCE Legal Studies in groups of up to 30 students.
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:
- Road Safety 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, date and times
Role-plays are available here at the Parliament of Victoria at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, Monday to Friday when the Parliament is not sitting.
The role play runs for approximately 90-minutes and includes a short tour of the Parliament.
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.
Bookings & Enquiries
View Availability
To make a booking, click the button below to view our available dates and times.
Times and dates for 2024 will be released in mid-January 2024.
Make a booking
Once you have found your preferred dates and times, email your booking request to tours@parliament.vic.gov.au with the following information:
- Selected date/s
- Time/s
- Number of students (up to 30)
- Class year level
- Role-play topic/bill (VCE Legal Studies students)
- School name and address
- Contact number for the booking
Enquiries
- Phone: (03) 9651 8569
- 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 side entrance on Spring street or 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.
Contact
For any enquiries regarding disability access and inclusion please email disabilityaccess@parliament.vic.gov.au
Social stories
Two social stories are available to accompany a visit to Parliament House. These have been designed for visitors who are neurodiverse who may like to read them in preparation for their visit. One is intended for readers of all ages, the other focuses on the experience of a school visit to parliament house.