| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| CRONIN, S** V P** D** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
Last updated: 10 Sep 2026, 9:54 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Neighbourhood Justice Centre in Collingwood is unlike any other courthouse in Australia. Located at 241 Wellington Street, Collingwood, Victoria 3066, it is the country's only community justice centre, bringing a Magistrates' Court together with the Children's Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and a suite of on-site support services under a single roof. If you have received a summons, notice, or charge sheet directing you to this venue, the daily hearing list published here helps you confirm your listing, the courtroom, and the approximate time your matter is scheduled to be heard. The court operates Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and is closed on weekends and public holidays.
The centre began operating in January 2007 and serves the City of Yarra, covering suburbs such as Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond, Abbotsford, Carlton North and Clifton Hill. It was established under the Courts Legislation (Neighbourhood Justice Centre) Act 2006, which gave it a distinct statutory footing within the specialist court division of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. Because of this unusual structure, a single magistrate hears almost all matters at the centre. This continuity allows the magistrate to build a consistent understanding of each person who appears, monitor their progress through court-ordered programs, and encourage genuine behavioural change rather than simply processing files.
What the Neighbourhood Justice Centre daily court list shows
A court list, sometimes called a daily hearing list or a court cause list, is the official schedule of matters set down to be heard on a given day. For the Collingwood centre, the list typically records the name of the party, the courtroom or hearing location, the listing time, and the type of matter, whether that is a mention, a contest mention, a hearing, a plea, or a review. Checking the list before you travel means you arrive at the right place and understand what stage your case has reached. It is one of the most searched pieces of information for anyone with a matter before a Victorian court, alongside the broader Melbourne Magistrates' Court list and regional lists across the state.
Daily lists are updated regularly, and matters can be moved, adjourned, or reordered on short notice. If your name does not appear where you expect, it does not automatically mean your matter has been cancelled. Courtrooms frequently run behind or ahead of schedule, and administrative changes are common. When in doubt, arrive early, speak with court staff or the registry, and allow enough time to be present for most of the day, since the exact hour a matter is called can shift.
What types of matters are heard at Collingwood
The Neighbourhood Justice Centre's court sits as a Magistrates' Court and hears most summary criminal offences, family violence matters, and personal safety intervention order applications for people connected to the City of Yarra. It also deals with driving and traffic offences, minor civil disputes, and, on designated days, Children's Court matters, child protection listings, and adoption matters. VCAT residential tenancy disputes are also heard on site, which is rare for a single venue. This breadth means the centre handles a wide cross-section of everyday legal issues faced by local residents.
The majority of matters heard at the centre are criminal. Many people who appear present with underlying challenges such as mental illness, acquired brain injury, substance dependence, unstable housing, or significant financial hardship. Rather than treating these issues as separate from the legal question, the court connects people to on-site services covering drug and alcohol support, mental health, family violence assistance, housing help and financial counselling. This model, known as therapeutic jurisprudence, aims to reduce the likelihood of reoffending by addressing root causes.
Criminal and family violence listings
Summary criminal charges, bail matters, pleas and sentencing all appear on the criminal list. Family violence intervention order applications and personal safety intervention orders are also heard here, and the centre offers a remote witness facility and audio visual link facilities to support vulnerable witnesses. If you are attending in relation to a family violence matter, arriving early allows time to access support workers and legal help before your matter is called.
Civil, tenancy and youth matters
Minor civil claims involving Yarra residents, VCAT residential tenancy disputes, and Children's Court listings are handled at the centre on set days. Because a single magistrate oversees these varied jurisdictions, outcomes are often more coordinated than at larger, higher-volume venues where different officers hear different case types.
Verified statistics: how the community justice model performs
The Neighbourhood Justice Centre is one of the most closely studied courts in Australia, and independent evaluations have produced measurable results. According to figures reported by the centre, offenders who go through the NJC have a 25 per cent lower rate of reoffending than those dealt with by other Victorian Magistrates' Courts. A recidivism study covering 2009 to 2011 found that NJC offenders were 26 per cent less likely to reoffend than comparable offenders sentenced elsewhere.
Compliance with court orders is also markedly stronger. NJC offenders have been found to be around three times less likely to breach Community Corrections Orders, with 23.1 per cent of high-risk offenders breaching their orders compared with a state-wide average of 59.9 per cent. Completion of community-based orders reached 82 per cent in 2011, compared with a state-wide average of about 72 per cent. Breach rates for intervention orders at the centre have ranged from roughly 4.6 to 6.3 per cent, against a state-wide figure of around 8.7 per cent.
The wider community impact has been significant as well. Research cited in Australian justice evaluations found the crime rate in the City of Yarra fell by around 23 per cent overall in the years following the centre's establishment in 2007. An Australian Institute of Criminology analysis reported that the NJC recorded a significantly lower rate of unsuccessful orders than four comparison courts, at 23 per cent versus 34 per cent across all five sites, with the strongest improvements seen among high-risk and moderate-risk offenders. Cost-benefit analysis estimated a return of between $1.09 and $2.23 for every dollar invested in the model. The centre now finalises more than 3,500 cases each year.
Practical information for attending court
The centre is located on Wellington Street in Collingwood, a short distance from central Melbourne and well connected by public transport. Limited two-hour and four-hour metered parking is available on Wellington Street and Perry Street, so allowing extra time to find a space is sensible. The building offers wheelchair access, accessible toilets, and a remote witness facility for those who need it.
When attending, dress neatly and conservatively, arrive well before your listed time, and be prepared to remain for much of the day. Bring any paperwork relating to your matter, including your charge sheet, summons or notice, and the details of any legal representative acting for you. If you need to change a court date, requests are handled through the registry, and you should make any application as early as possible rather than simply failing to appear, since missing a listing can have serious consequences.
Contact and registry details
General enquiries can be directed to the centre by phone on (03) 9087 5739. The registry can assist with listing queries, filing, adjournment requests, and general procedural questions, though staff cannot provide legal advice. If you require legal help, community legal services in the area and duty lawyers can often assist on the day, particularly for criminal and family violence matters.
How Collingwood fits within the Victorian court system
The Neighbourhood Justice Centre is one node in a much larger network. Victoria's court hierarchy runs from the Magistrates' Court through the County Court and up to the Supreme Court, with specialist courts and tribunals operating alongside them. Most criminal matters for adults begin in a Magistrates' Court, and only a portion proceed to higher courts. If your matter is connected to a different location, you can check listings for other venues such as the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court list or the Ringwood Magistrates' Court daily list, both of which serve populous parts of metropolitan Melbourne.
Because listings, courtroom allocations and hearing times change from day to day, it is always worth confirming the current schedule before attending. For a broader overview of hearings across the state, including regional and metropolitan venues, the Victorian court lists hub brings together the daily schedules in one place, making it easier to locate the correct court and date without contacting each registry individually.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Neighbourhood Justice Centre located?
The centre is at 241 Wellington Street, Collingwood, Victoria 3066. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and is closed on weekends and public holidays. Metered street parking is available nearby on Wellington and Perry streets.
What court is the Neighbourhood Justice Centre?
It is a Magistrates' Court within the specialist court division of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. It also sits as a Children's Court and hears VCAT residential tenancy matters, making it the only court in Australia to combine these functions with on-site support services under one roof.
What matters are heard at the centre?
The court hears most summary criminal offences, family violence and personal safety intervention order applications, driving and traffic offences, minor civil claims, Children's Court listings on set days, and residential tenancy disputes for people connected to the City of Yarra.
How do I check the daily court list?
The daily hearing list shows the parties, courtroom, listing time and matter type for each day. Listings can change at short notice, so confirm the current schedule before travelling and arrive early, as the exact time your matter is called may vary.
Can I change my court date?
Requests to change a listed date are made through the registry and should be lodged as early as possible. Contact the centre on (03) 9087 5739 for guidance. Failing to appear without arranging an adjournment can lead to serious consequences, so do not simply miss your listing.
Does the centre really reduce reoffending?
Independent evaluations have found measurable benefits. Reported results include a 25 per cent lower rate of reoffending than other Victorian Magistrates' Courts, markedly higher order completion rates, and substantially lower breach rates, particularly among higher-risk offenders.
