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In Touch with Our CommunityRepresentatives of user groupsexchange regarding practicesaims to assist the successful transitionCriminal Justiceinclude solicitors, barristers, repre-and procedures.from detention to the community byEnhancement Programsentatives of various agencies andtechnical experts who meet periodicallywith Judges and staff of theCourt. These meetings allow a freeexchange of ideas with the mutualaim of improving service provision,while educating users about Courtrequirements.Examples of user groups included:• Criminal Users Group—Chaired by the Chief Judge, theCriminal Users Group providesan interface between Judges,members of the profession, theCriminal Bar Association, Officeof Public Prosecutions, CourtRegistry personnel and otheragencies regarding the Court’scriminal jurisdiction.• Litigation LawyersMeeting—Chaired by JudgeHarbison and comprised ofJudges of the Court, Registrystaff and legal practitioners, thegroup meets as required to discussprocedural matters withrespect to the civil jurisdiction.• Medical Division Meetings—Judge Wodak and relevant legalpractitioners regularly meet todiscuss the operation of theMedical Division. The meetingsprovided a forum for exchanginginformation with respect tocourt procedures.• Building Division Meeting—Judge Shelton holds a meetingfor the Building Division comprisingfive legal practitionersand one non-legal technicalexpert. The meeting offers an• Section 134AB DivisionMeetings—In developing theframework for the commencementof the new Division, JudgeHiggins engaged the VictorianWorkCover Authority, panelsolicitors, and leading solicitorsin the area of seriousinjury litigation to clarify issuesand achieve consensus aboutthe operation of the Division.Formal Links withExternal OrganisationsBy maintaining more formal linkswith external organisations, many ofthe Court’s Judges offer the benefit oftheir legal knowledge and expertiseby serving on external committees fornumerous organisations. The followinginformation details some examplesof this activity. Refer to page 56for a more comprehensive listing oflinks with external organisations.Adult Parole BoardJudge Douglas serves as a boardmember of the Adult Parole Board,an independent statutory body establishedunder the Corrections Act1986, which exercises its jurisdictionover the release of prisoners onparole. Its judicial members visitprisons throughout Victoria in thecourse of their duties.Youth Parole BoardJudge Barnett is chairman, and JudgeCurtain is alternate chair, of the YouthParole Board. Established under theChildren and Young Persons Act1989, it deals with young peopledetained in a youth residential centrereleasing, or granting parole to, youngoffenders to serve part of their sentencesin the community.Council Of Legal EducationChief Judge Rozenes and JudgeOstrowski are members of theCouncil of Legal Education, establishedunder the Legal Practice Act1996. The responsibilities of theCouncil include:• determining the qualificationsrequired for admission to legalpractice; and• making rules with respect tothe courses of study, examinations,service of articles andother qualifications requiredfor admission to legal practice.Governing Council of theJudicial Conference ofAustraliaJudge Curtain represents the Courton the Governing Council of theJudicial Conference of Australia.This national body deals withmatters of importance to judicialofficers, both at a national and jurisdictionallevel.Courts Consultative CouncilPresided over by the Attorney-General, the Courts ConsultativeCouncil provides a forum for thediscussion of issues and plans forthe administration of justice in theState of Victoria. The Chief Judgeand Chief Executive Officer attend onbehalf of the Court. Judge Coateattends as President of theChildren’s Court.Judge Wodak and the Chief ExecutiveOfficer represent the Court on theCriminal Justice EnhancementProgram (CJEP). CJEP is a ‘strategicchange’ program located within theTechnical Services and KnowledgeManagement sections of the DOJ.Developed to streamline administrativeprocedures within the criminaljustice system, the program includescase listing and case managementprocesses.Board of the Judicial Collegeof VictoriaChief Judge Rozenes is a member ofthe board governing the JudicialCollege of Victoria and Judge Wodakis a member of its Syllabus AdvisoryCommittee. The College providestimely, relevant and informative professionaldevelopment programs andpublications for judicial officers ofVictorian courts.Liaison with Other StatutoryBodiesFrom time to time Judges of theCourt are invited to participate in thework of external advisory committeesbecause of their expertise inparticular areas of the law or theirexperience and involvement inissues relevant to the questionsbeing considered. Two such bodiesseeking the Court’s assistance in2004–05 were Victoria Legal Aidand the Victorian Law ReformCommission.opportunity for informationor youth training centre. The Board16County Court of Victoria 2004–05 Annual Report