Contact Us

Important information: COVID-19

Find out about changes at ACAT due to COVID-19.

Street address

Allara House
15 Constitution Avenue
Canberra City ACT

You will locate the entry to ACAT, facing the outdoor Plaza between the Nara Centre and Allara House.

For further information about our location, see our attending ACAT information.

Postal address

GPO Box 370
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Hours

The Registry Counter and Phone line is open for general enquiries between 9.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday each week.

Phone

(02) 6207 1740

If you call ACAT and your call isn’t answered straight away, it's because ACAT registry staff are busy assisting others. You can choose to wait in the queue or can request a call back. You will not lose your place in the queue if you select the call back option.

Fax

(02) 6205 4855

Email

tribunal@act.gov.au

We aim to respond to emails within two business days. Include the case reference number or case name (if available) in the subject line.

When you send an email to ACAT, you must copy any other parties into your correspondence, unless there is a non-disclosure order in place.

How we can help you

ACAT staff can give you information about ACAT processes and procedures, and where you can get more help if you need it. ACAT staff cannot give you legal advice about your case.

ACAT registry staff can:

  • show you where to get an application and other documents
  • tell you if your application is missing necessary information, such as signatures, names and addresses, or supporting material
  • explain the steps involved in a case, for example, whether the case will be listed for a conference, directions hearing or a hearing, and the likely timeframe
  • explain ACAT processes, such as how to apply for an adjournment or an urgent hearing, and how to lodge an appeal or subpoena
  • tell you what fee you need to pay, and the processes involved in asking for a fee exemption, waiver or deferral
  • refer you to free legal advice providers or to other services
  • tell you how to request a transcript or the audio recording from a hearing.

There are some things we can't do

ACAT registry staff cannot:

  • tell you whether you should make an application
  • tell you whether you are lodging an application in the correct legal area
  • tell you what to write in your application
  • predict the outcome of your case
  • advise how the law applies to your case
  • tell you what evidence you need
  • give you legal advice.

How to make an enquiry about your case

In all dealings with ACAT, you are expected to communicate with ACAT staff in a courteous and respectful manner. Rude, aggressive or other disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated.

Remember, try searching our website for answers to your questions first.

When you ask a question about your case (in writing), please provide ACAT:

  • the case reference number and the names of the parties (e.g. XD 001/2018 Smith v Jones)
  • a clear explanation of your question
  • any document details you refer to.

Make sure enquiries are made with as much notice as possible.

Be aware, if you send ACAT a document related to an application, or write us a letter or email, you must (unless there is a non-disclosure order) send a copy of the document, email or letter to any other party in the case.

Urgent enquiries

If you have an urgent enquiry because of an unforeseen circumstance, include the word URGENT in the subject line of an email. Explain why your enquiry is urgent in your email.

Alternatively, contact ACAT registry staff by telephone.

Contacting ACAT Members

You will have the opportunity at a conference, mediation or hearing to discuss or present your case to an ACAT Member or Members.

Do not otherwise contact an ACAT Member directly about any aspect of your case. If you need to talk to ACAT about a case, contact the ACAT registry by the methods set out above.

Orders or guidelines about communication

In some proceedings, specific orders or guidelines about how to communicate with other parties and/or ACAT will be made. Parties to ACAT cases are expected to comply with any orders or guidelines that are made.

More information

We have more information about:

Glossary and terms

Glossary and terms

ACT Civil and Administrative TribunalA tribunal established under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. It may also be referred to as ACAT or Tribunal.

Adjourn (or adjournment)To suspend or postpone a preliminary conference, mediation or hearing and reschedule it for a future date.

Administrative reviewACAT has jurisdiction to review some administrative decisions made by the ACT Government. Find out about Review of ACT Government decisions.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)Also known as dispute resolution. This is a way of resolving disputes without a formal hearing. It may involve a preliminary conference or mediation. ADR is used to help parties resolve cases by agreement.

AnorMeans ‘and another’. This term is generally used to name parties to proceedings when there is more than one applicant or respondent.

Appeal TribunalA tribunal constituted under section 81 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal 2008 to review a decision of the tribunal (not all ACAT decisions are appealable at ACAT – you may need to go to the Supreme Court).

AppellantThe individual or company that appeals an ACAT decision.

ApplicantThe individual or company that brings a case to ACAT, usually by making an application.

Authorising lawsA law that says an application (including referrals) may be made to ACAT. An authorising law may also set out the powers ACAT has in a case. Also see ‘jurisdiction’.

Calling a witnessA party or their representative will ‘call a witness’ at an ACAT hearing when they ask a witness to give evidence.

CaseAlso known as a matter, dispute, application or referral. Cases come to ACAT when ACAT has jurisdiction (power) to make a decision.

Cross-examinationThe process of asking a witness questions to test or check the evidence that the witness has given to ACAT.

DecisionWhat the tribunal decides or determines about an issue or a dispute. The tribunal may sometimes explain why in a statement of reasons.

Defined benefitsare the following benefits (see section 33 of the MAI Act):

  1. income replacement benefits;
  2. treatment and care benefits;
  3. quality of life benefits;
  4. death benefits;
  5. funeral benefits.

Deliver a decisionAlso ‘handing down a decision’. This is giving a decision about an ACAT case. It may be done verbally or in writing (or both).

DirectionsInstructions that set out what each party must do (and when), often to prepare a case for hearing.

Directions hearingA short hearing where an ACAT Member or Registrar decides how to manage a case and what needs to be done before a hearing. Find out about directions hearings.

Ex parte orderAn order made by ACAT where one or more parties were not present.

Expert reportA written report from an expert that may be used as evidence.

Expert witnessA person with specialised knowledge based on their training, study or experience. An expert can give evidence at a hearing. Find out more about witness statements.

Final directions hearingSometimes ACAT will hold a final directions hearing prior to the final hearing of an application. The purpose is to make sure the case is ready to go to a hearing and give the parties a chance to ask questions about the hearing process.

GuardianA guardian is a person ACAT appoints to make personal decisions, about health, welfare and where a person lives, for a person who has impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

Handed upGiving documents to an ACAT Member or Registrar in a hearing.

In chambersWhen ACAT considers something without holding a hearing.

Joined party (joined/joinder)A party who was not originally a party to the dispute but has later been added to the case.

JurisdictionACAT’s authority (power) to deal with, hear and decide applications (cases).

LeaveIf someone asks for leave, they are usually asking for permission to do something.

List (or listing)A schedule (or list) of cases to be heard at ACAT each day.

Listing noticeA letter or written document from ACAT that sets out when a conference, mediation or hearing is scheduled at ACAT.

ManagerA manager is a person ACAT appoints to make decisions, about property and money, for a person with impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

MAI ActMotor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT).

MediationA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute, with the help of an impartial mediator (who is also an ACAT Member or Registrar). It is held under section 35 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008.

Non-publication and/or non-disclosure orderAlso called a ‘suppression order’. It is an order that requires certain information not to be published or disclosed. It is made under section 39 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. Find out about public hearings and confidentiality.

Notice to partiesA letter sent to the parties in a case that sets out the time, date and location for an ACAT conference, mediation or hearing.

Opening statementUsually means a statement made at the beginning of a hearing to outline the key points in the case. Sometimes parties are asked to give an opening statement at a mediation or preliminary conference.

OrderA direction or instruction of the tribunal that a person do a certain thing. The tribunal can make different types of orders depending on the case type and the tribunal’s powers in a case or dispute.

Originating applicationAn application that starts an ACAT case.

Party or partiesAn individual or company directly involved in an ACAT case, for example an applicant or respondent. Find out how to identify and name parties.

Preliminary conferenceA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute with the help of an ACAT Member or Registrar. See section 33 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. ACAT has different types of preliminary conferences.

Protected personA person who has impaired decision-making ability and about whom an application to ACAT may be made seeking orders under the Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991 or the Power of Attorney Act 2006.

RegistryThe administrative section of ACAT that accepts documents lodged by parties, handles enquiries and provides support for case management.

Relevant insurerfor a motor accident, means the insurer under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (see section 34) of the motor vehicle considered to be at fault for the motor accident in the ACT.

RepresentativeA person who represents or advocates for an individual or company at a conference, mediation or hearing at ACAT. For example, a legal practitioner or an attorney appointed under a general power of attorney.

Reserved decisionWhen an ACAT Member or Registrar reserves a decision (at the end of a hearing), this means they will give their decision later, either verbally or in writing (sometimes both).

RespondentThe party (or parties) against whom orders or relief is sought.

Serve/serviceA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.

Short service orderAn order that authorises a shorter time for service (than the time otherwise required).

Significant occupational impact (SOI)Significant impact on an injured person’s ability to undertake employment.

Statement of reasonsA document that explains why ACAT made an order in a case. It sets out the law relied on by an ACAT Member or Registrar and explains how the law was applied to the facts of the case. You can request a written statement of reasons within 14 days after an order is made. Find out about statement of reasons.

StayAn order for a particular action (or decision) to be put on hold or suspended for a period of time.

SubmissionA document that sets out your side of a case or dispute and the relevant law. It is presented to ACAT either in writing, verbally or both. Find out about submissions.

SubpoenaRequires a person to appear at ACAT to give evidence or provide documents (or both). Find out about subpoenas.

Substituted service orderAn order that says how a party is to be served with an application or other documents related to the proceedings. In a civil dispute or a rental dispute, an applicant will need to consider asking for a substituted service order if they do not have a physical address for the respondent. Find out about lodging and serving documents.

WitnessA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.