VCAT

• victorian civil and administrative tribunal that deals with disputes relating to a range of civil isues heard by four divisions
• 1. administrative divison

  • guardianship - personal illness/ disability that prohibits one from being able to look after themselves
  • planning - housing permission
• 2. civil divison

  • consumer disputes - refunds, fixes, under warranty, payments
  • building disputes
• 3. human rights division

  • workers rights - discrimination
• 4. residential tendencies division

  • unpaid rent
  • bond, repairs, deposit
• provides Victorian with a low cost, efficient and independent tribunal delivering high quality dispute resolution processes
• wide variety of locations around vic make VCAT accessible
• provides a less formal atmosphere than courts
• allows cases to be heard and determined by an independent third party known as the VCAT member
• • use mediation
  • final hearing
  • is on the phone and in person
• appropriate when the dispute is within VCATs jurisdiction
• appropriate when parties want a low cost binding decision
• innapropriate when the dispute is outside VCATs jurisdiction
• VCAT uses mediation as a way of resolving disputes where they can send parties to mediation to resolve a dispute in a cooperative way with an impartial mediator that facilitates discussion between them. 
• Once parties decide what the final outcome will be, the outcome is non-binding and they may return to VCAT to make the decision binding and enforceable.