VIC Sunshine Magistrates Court List Today

Sunshine Magistrates' Court is one of the busiest suburban courts serving Melbourne's western growth corridor, sitting on Wurundjeri Country at 10 Foundry Road, Sunshine VIC 3020. It forms part of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, the entry point for the overwhelming majority of legal matters heard across the state. If you have received a summons, an intervention order application, a traffic charge or a civil claim listed at this venue, understanding how the court operates, what it can decide, and how to prepare will make your day in Sunshine far less stressful. This page brings together verified court details, current statistics and practical guidance so you can walk in knowing what to expect.

The Magistrates' Court is where Victorian justice begins and, for most people, where it ends. According to the Sentencing Advisory Council, more than 90 per cent of all cases sentenced in Victoria are dealt with in the Magistrates' Court rather than the higher courts. In 2023 to 2024, magistrates across the state sentenced 85,462 cases, and over the two decades from July 2004 to June 2024 the court sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year. Sunshine handles a meaningful share of that workload for the Brimbank area and the surrounding western suburbs, which is why registry queues and daily lists here are often substantial.

Where Sunshine Magistrates' Court sits in the Victorian court system

Victoria operates a tiered court structure. The Magistrates' Court hears summary offences, some indictable offences heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings that decide whether serious charges proceed to the County Court or Supreme Court. Above it, the County Court handles the bulk of serious criminal trials and larger civil claims, while the Supreme Court deals with the most serious matters and appeals. Sunshine functions squarely within this first tier, meaning a magistrate rather than a judge and jury decides the matters listed here.

The scale of this first tier is easy to underestimate. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 105,593 defendants were finalised in Victoria's criminal courts in 2023 to 2024, and historically around 92 to 94 per cent of all defendants nationally have their matter finalised in a Magistrates' Court. For residents of Sunshine, Albion, Deer Park, St Albans, Ardeer and the broader Brimbank region, this is the court that most directly touches everyday legal life, from a speeding charge to a family violence intervention order.

What Sunshine Magistrates' Court can decide

The court's jurisdiction at Sunshine covers four broad streams: criminal, civil, intervention orders, and specialist support lists. Each stream has its own registry and its own process, and knowing which one your matter falls under helps you contact the right people before your hearing.

Criminal matters

The criminal jurisdiction hears and determines all summary offences, some indictable offences, and conducts committal hearings for more serious charges before they move to a higher court. Common matters at Sunshine include theft, assault, drug possession, breaches of intervention orders and public order offences. Traffic and vehicle offences remain the single largest category of criminal work statewide. ABS figures for 2024 to 2025 show that traffic and vehicle offences made up 42 per cent of all defendants finalised in Victoria, by far the most common principal offence type, followed by assault and other acts intended to cause injury.

Civil disputes

On the civil side, the Magistrates' Court can hear disputes valued up to $100,000 arising from debts, claims for damages, other monetary disputes or equitable relief. This makes Sunshine a practical venue for small business debt recovery, unpaid invoices, consumer disputes and contractual disagreements. Matters above that threshold generally proceed to the County Court, so confirming the value of your claim early determines where it belongs.

Intervention orders

Sunshine hears two types of intervention orders: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These protect people from violence, threats, stalking, harassment and property damage. Given the sensitivity of these matters, the court provides a safe waiting environment, remote witness facilities and support services, and the Magistrates' Court of Victoria maintains a dedicated online safety and quick exit process for people applying for or responding to these orders.

Specialist and support lists

Sunshine runs specialist streams that go beyond simply hearing and sentencing. The Court Integrated Services Program, known as CISP, supports eligible accused persons on bail by connecting them with health, housing, drug and alcohol, and mental health services. The court also runs an Assessment and Referral Court list for people living with complex mental health conditions or cognitive impairment, which aims to address the underlying factors that contribute to offending. If your matter involves mental health considerations, the Sunshine Assessment and Referral Court list is the stream most likely to apply, and legal advice about eligibility is worth obtaining early.

Location, transport and getting to court on time

The court is located at 10 Foundry Road, Sunshine VIC 3020, with correspondence directed to PO Box 435, Sunshine VIC 3020. Sunshine is a major interchange in Melbourne's west, which makes public transport the most reliable way to attend. Sunshine Railway Station serves the Sunbury, Ballarat, Bendigo and Serviceville regional and metropolitan lines, while Albion Station is roughly a five minute walk from the courthouse. Because parking around the precinct fills quickly on busy list days, arriving by train is often faster than driving and searching for a space.

Public car parking is available at the court, including designated disabled parking spaces. If you are driving, allow extra time during morning peak, when criminal and intervention order lists are called together and the building is at its most crowded. As a general rule, aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before your listed time so you can clear security screening, find your courtroom and speak with your lawyer or a duty service before the magistrate sits.

Opening hours, contacts and facilities

Sunshine Magistrates' Court is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm and is closed on weekends and public holidays. The general enquiries line is (03) 9087 5726. Separate registries handle criminal, civil, intervention order and diversion matters, and the Court Integrated Services Program can be reached on (03) 9007 7112. Contacting the correct registry directly, rather than the general line, usually gets your question answered faster.

The building is equipped for accessibility and remote participation. Facilities include wheelchair access, accessible toilets, hearing loops, a remote witness facility and audio visual link capability for hearings conducted online. If you require an interpreter, telephone or video conferencing facilities, or additional security, the court asks that you make the request in writing before your hearing date so arrangements can be confirmed. Interpreter services are free in eligible matters and should be booked in advance wherever possible.

Finding your hearing and reading the daily court list

Every listed matter appears on a daily court list published the day before the hearing, showing the courtroom, the time and the type of matter. Checking the list the night before, and again on the morning of your hearing, confirms your courtroom has not changed and tells you roughly when to arrive. Court lists are grouped by hearing type, so criminal mentions, contest mentions, civil hearings and intervention order applications are often called at different times and in different rooms.

If you are unsure whether your matter is being heard at Sunshine or another venue in the west, it helps to compare listings across nearby courts. The nearby Wyndham Law Courts serve the Werribee and Wyndham growth area, while the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in the CBD handles many specialist and higher volume lists. Reviewing the correct daily list avoids the serious risk of attending the wrong court and missing your matter.

What to bring and how to prepare

Preparation reduces both delay and anxiety. Bring photo identification, your summons, charge sheet or official correspondence, and any documents, statements or evidence relevant to your case. If you have a lawyer, confirm where and when to meet them before the hearing. If you do not, a duty lawyer service may be able to provide limited free assistance on the day for certain criminal matters, though availability is not guaranteed and early legal advice is always preferable.

There is no formal dress code, but neat and respectful attire is expected. Mobile phones must be switched off or silenced inside courtrooms, and recording proceedings is not permitted. When your matter is called, address the magistrate as "Your Honour," stand when speaking, and keep your explanation clear and to the point. Court staff can help with procedural questions such as where to sit or how to file a form, but they cannot give legal advice about your case.

Understanding likely outcomes

Outcomes in the Magistrates' Court range widely depending on the charge, your history and the circumstances. Statewide data offers useful context. Of Victorian defendants whose charges resulted in a court judgement in 2023 to 2024, almost all had a guilty outcome, and 49 per cent of those sentenced received a fine as their principal penalty, with a median fine of $650. A smaller group, around 6 per cent, received a custodial sentence, with a median length of four months. Diversion, adjourned undertakings, community correction orders and good behaviour bonds are also common dispositions for lower level offending, particularly for first time or minor matters.

These figures are statewide averages and cannot predict any individual result, but they illustrate an important point: the majority of matters at this level are resolved through fines and non custodial orders rather than imprisonment. Engaging early, seeking legal advice, and where appropriate taking part in support programs such as CISP can materially affect how a magistrate views your matter.

Support services available at and around the court

Attending court can be daunting, and Sunshine connects visitors to several support pathways. The Mental Health Court Liaison Service provides on site psychiatric support, assessment of fitness to plead, and referral to community or prison based mental health facilities. Court Network volunteers offer non legal support, information and a reassuring presence for people who are nervous or attending alone. Family violence support workers assist applicants and affected family members through the intervention order process, including safe waiting arrangements.

For anyone comparing venues, preparing for multiple listings, or simply trying to understand how their local court fits into the wider system, browsing the full range of Victorian court listings helps you locate the right registry, the right daily list and the right support service before you ever set foot in the building.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sunshine Magistrates' Court located?

The court is at 10 Foundry Road, Sunshine VIC 3020, on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne's western suburbs. Postal correspondence should be sent to PO Box 435, Sunshine VIC 3020. Albion Station is about a five minute walk away, and Sunshine Station is a nearby major transport interchange.

What are the court's opening hours?

Registry and court hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. The court is closed on weekends and public holidays. Some hearings, such as urgent bail matters, may be dealt with through other arrangements outside standard hours.

What types of cases does Sunshine Magistrates' Court hear?

The court hears criminal summary offences, some indictable offences and committals, traffic matters, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention orders. It also runs specialist lists including the Court Integrated Services Program and an Assessment and Referral Court list.

How do I find out which courtroom my matter is in?

Check the daily court list, which is published the day before your hearing and shows the courtroom, time and matter type. Confirm again on the morning of your hearing in case the courtroom has changed, and arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear security.

Can I get a fine reduced or avoid a conviction?

Outcomes depend on the charge and your circumstances. Statewide, fines are the most common penalty and most matters are resolved without imprisonment, but no result is guaranteed. Seeking legal advice early, and where eligible taking part in diversion or support programs, gives you the best prospect of a favourable outcome.

Is there parking at Sunshine Magistrates' Court?

Public car parking is available at the court, including disabled parking spaces, but it fills quickly on busy list days. Because Sunshine is a major public transport hub, catching a train to Sunshine or Albion Station is often the most reliable option.

Can I bring a support person or interpreter?

Yes. Support people are generally permitted, and free interpreter services are available in eligible matters. Interpreter, remote witness, video conferencing or additional security requests should be made in writing before your hearing so the court can confirm availability on the day.