It is important that everyone involved in your case receives the information they need to participate in a hearing and for the Tribunal Member to make a decision about your case.

For your document to be accepted by SACAT, it must meet a few requirements so it can be understood and relied upon. Your document must:

  • Clearly identify the person who is providing it to SACAT or on whose behalf it is provided
  • Include the SACAT reference number for your matter
  • Be in English - if it is not in English, it must have a translation into English by an accredited professional translator

Equal opportunity complaints

As part of your application, you may be asked to provide further and better particulars of your complaint.

Particulars is a legal term which refers to the details of a complaint (or defence).

Particulars identify the details of the conduct which may constitute unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation.

Consider providing details about the 'who, what, when, where and why' of the complaint, as well as any other details that might be relevant.

Relying on new documents at hearing

You should provide all your evidence and documents to SACAT at least a week before your hearing where possible, or by any date stipulated by the Tribunal.

At a hearing you cannot rely on or present any new evidence without the other people involved in your matter having a reasonable opportunity to consider it.

If you do not provide your evidence and documents as above, then SACAT may refuse to accept and consider it at the hearing. SACAT may also adjourn your hearing for a brief period but this is at the Tribunal member's discretion.

Providing documents

If you have a lawyer or other representation, they must give SACAT and the other people involved in your case the documents and evidence you want to form part of your case.

If you are representing yourself, you must give SACAT the documents and evidence you want to form part of your case and SACAT will distribute them to the other parties on your behalf.

If you are providing documents or evidence electronically, they must be provided to the other people involved in your case at the same time that you provide them to SACAT.

If your documents cannot be given or received electronically, they must be given to others as soon as practicable after they have been given to SACAT.

For a document to be considered a 'certified copy' it must be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP).

A JP acts as an independent and objective witness who can certify a true copy of an original document.

You will need to take the original documents, together with photocopies, to a JP. Most local councils provide free JP services.