ACAT procedures are conducted in English. The Tribunal can only make arrangements to use an interpreter in limited circumstances.
The ACAT will arrange and pay for an interpreter in Mental Health and Guardianship and Energy and Water matters for the person that the case is about. This will be arranged on request or if the Tribunal itself deems it necessary or desirable.
Interpreters can be used for other cases but the person requiring the interpreter must arrange and pay for the service.
A case will not usually be adjourned because a party needs an interpreter but has not arranged one before attending a hearing or conference.
A telephone interpreter service is available by telephoning 131 450. A fee may be charged for this service.
Applicants may only bring a matter before ACAT if an authorising law gives the tribunal the power to make a decision about that matter. There are over 160 authorising laws. A link to a document that describes the various authorising laws is set out below. The ACAT Act is the authorising law for civil disputes.
Generally the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008(the ACAT Act) and the rules, regulation and procedural directions made under that Act set out the procedure that should be followed for any application. Sometimes however, an authorising law contains provisions about procedures or powers specifically about the particular subject matter it deals with. Where the provisions of an authorising law conflict with those in the ACAT Act, the authorising law prevails. Before you lodge an application with ACAT please make sure that you check that there is an authorising law that gives ACAT the power to deal with the application. Applications should be lodged using an approved form. Links to forms are in the relevant section of this website. There is also a link to all approved forms on the ACT Legislation Register below.
There are also links to other documents that are regularly used but that are not approved forms below.
Applications or Appeals to the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal may incur a filing fee. For information about ACAT fees please follow the link to our schedule of fees. If payment of fees might cause hardship you can follow this link.
Authorising Laws (DOC 30kb)
Complete List of Approved Forms
Expert Witness Code of Conduct (PDF 76kb)
Expert Witness Code of Conduct (RTF 40kb)
Power of Attorney - For Representation of An Individual (PDF 98kb)
Power of Attorney - For Representation of An Individual (DOC 51kb)
Notice of New Contact or Representation Details (PDF 41kb)
Notice of New Contact or Representation Details (RTF 892kb)
Form for standard Statutory Declaration (DOC 45kb)
Form for standard Statutory Declaration (PDF 84kb)
For Representation of a Business (PDF 98kb)
For Representation of a Business (DOC 53kb)
ACAT Service Charter (DOC 53kb)
