ACAT

What ACAT does

ACAT (ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal) is an independent statutory tribunal established under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 and operational since 2 February 2009, when it consolidated 16 prior ACT jurisdictions and tribunals into a single 'super tribunal'. Headquartered at Allara House, 15 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City, ACAT exercises jurisdiction over 20+ case types covering civil disputes (typically claims up to $25,000), rental property disputes, fence disputes, guardianship and management of property matters, mental health, discrimination (referred from the ACT Human Rights Commission), energy and water complaints, motor accident injuries, retirement village disputes, unit title disputes, voluntary assisted dying, conversion practice complaints, and reviews of ACT Government decisions, operating under more than 150 authorising laws.

The tribunal's technology platform comprises a government case management and dispute resolution system, online application forms for multiple case types, a Remote Attendance Portal enabling participation via audio-visual link (AVL) and telephone, accessibility hardware in hearing rooms (hearing augmentation, visualiser/annotator, HDMI/USB playback), and a publicly searchable decisions database. The website conforms to WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines and is supported by educational video content translated into 20 languages. Distribution is multi-channel: walk-in registry services, phone/email, online forms, and remote attendance, with interpreter services provided through 2M Language Services and Translationz, and accessibility relay through the National Relay Service.

ACAT's revenue model is primarily ACT Government appropriation through the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, supplemented by application and filing fees set under the Court Procedures (Fees) Determination and updated annually on 1 July. Fee exemptions, waivers, and deferrals are available for concession card holders and applicants experiencing financial hardship. Customer segments comprise individual citizens, business entities, ACT Government agencies, and vulnerable populations (e.g., persons requiring guardianship or mental health orders). Service delivery is overseen by President Mary-Therese Daniel (appointed September 2023) and a bench of Presidential Members and sessional Senior and Ordinary Members.

Name

ACAT

Legal name

ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Website

https://acat.act.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACAT is the Australian Capital Territory's independent statutory tribunal, resolving civil, administrative, and regulatory disputes across 20+ case types for individuals, businesses, and government agencies via conferences, mediation, and hearings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Application and Filing Fees: ACAT charges government-mandated fees for lodging applications and other case-related services. These fees are set out in the Court Procedures (Fees) Determination and vary by case type. Fee exemptions, waivers, and deferrals are available for eligible applicants.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACAT is an independent statutory tribunal that hears and determines civil, administrative, and regulatory disputes within the Australian Capital Territory. It delivers dispute resolution services across 17+ case types—covering civil disputes (typically up to $25,000), rental property, guardianship, mental health, motor accident injuries, energy and water, discrimination, fence, unit title, retirement village, and government decision reviews—through a structured pipeline of conferences, mediation, and formal hearings, supported by an online portal, remote AVL attendance, and a public decision search database.

Product overview

ACAT (ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal) is a government tribunal service that provides dispute resolution through conferences, mediation, and hearings. The service encompasses a unified platform of tribunal case management covering civil disputes (up to $25,000), rental property disputes, guardianship and management of property cases, mental health cases, motor accident injuries, energy and water cases, discrimination cases, fence disputes, retirement village disputes, unit title disputes, and reviews of ACT Government decisions. Supplementary digital services include online forms for applications, a remote attendance portal for virtual participation, and a public decision search database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Disputes Resolution Resolution of civil disputes about contracts, damages, debt, consumer law, nuisance, trespass, and other matters, usually for claims up to $25,000. Used by individuals and businesses in the ACT.
• Rental Property Disputes Resolution of disputes arising from leases or occupancy agreements, including bond disbursement, termination, and eviction matters. Used by tenants, landlords, and agents in the ACT.
• Guardianship and Management of Property Cases Appointment of guardians and managers for adults with impaired decision-making ability to make personal, health, welfare, and financial decisions. Used by family members, carers, and advocates of vulnerable adults.
• Mental Health Cases Tribunal jurisdiction to make orders about a person's mental health treatment, care, or support. Used by health professionals, patients, families, and advocates in the ACT.
• Motor Accident Injuries Review of insurer decisions, orders, and determinations about payments to persons injured in motor accidents in the ACT. Used by injured persons, insurers, and legal representatives.
• Energy and Water Cases Complaints about energy and water companies, applications about hardship and supply disconnection. Used by ACT consumers and utility customers.
• Discrimination Cases Cases referred from the ACT Human Rights Commission involving discrimination in the ACT. Used by complainants and respondents in discrimination matters.
• Fence Disputes Resolution of disputes about new fences, fence repairs, or replacements between adjoining land owners. Used by adjoining property owners in the ACT.
• Unit Title Disputes Resolution of disputes between unit title owners and owners corporations. Used by unit owners, owners corporations, and related parties in the ACT.
• Retirement Village Disputes Resolution of disputes between residents and operators of retirement villages. Used by retirement village residents and their families in the ACT.
• Review of ACT Government Decisions Statutory review of administrative decisions made by ACT Government agencies. Used by individuals and entities seeking review of government decisions.
• Occupational Regulation and Discipline Cases Disciplinary and regulatory matters involving licensed professions and occupations in the ACT. Used by occupational regulatory authorities and practitioners.
• Children and Young People Cases Review of certain care, protection, and assistance decisions by the Director-General, Health and Community Services Directorate. Used by children, young people, and their advocates in the ACT.
• Change of Identity Details for Young People For young people under 14, permission to apply to change identity details at Access Canberra. Used by young applicants and their families.
• Fair Trading Conciliation Agreements Orders giving effect to a fair trading conciliation agreement reached at Access Canberra to resolve a consumer complaint. Used by consumers and traders after Access Canberra conciliation.
• Conversion Practice Complaints Conversion practice complaints not resolved and closed by the ACT Human Rights Commission may be referred to ACAT by the complainant. Used by complainants in the ACT.
• Voluntary Assisted Dying Tribunal jurisdiction relating to voluntary assisted dying applications under ACT legislation. Used by applicants, family members, and medical practitioners.
• Conferences Private meetings where parties discuss ways to resolve disputes with help from an ACAT Member or Registrar, available across all case types.
• Mediation Alternative dispute resolution facilitated by an impartial mediator who is also an ACAT Member or Registrar, used to settle matters before formal hearings.
• Hearings Formal tribunal hearings including directions, interim, urgent, and final hearings where evidence is presented and binding decisions are made, available across all case types.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 2M Language ServicescoreOthersACAT organises interpreters through 2M Language Services for parties who speak languages other than English. Interpreters can assist by telephone or attend ACAT in person. Services are provided at no cost to the party requiring interpretation.
• TranslationzcoreOthersACAT uses Translationz as an alternative interpreter services provider for parties requiring language assistance. Both telephone and in-person interpretation available.
• National Relay Service (NRS)coreOthersFree telephone service for deaf or hearing/speech impaired clients. ACAT communicates with TTY machine users through NRS, enabling accessibility for users with hearing impairments.
• Legal Aid ACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree legal assistance provider recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others seeking legal support when attending ACAT.
• Aboriginal Legal ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending ACAT, providing legal assistance and advocacy.
• Victim Support ACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree service assisting victims of crime with recovery and accessing their rights. ACAT refers victims to this service and works with the Victim Liaison Officer.
• ACT Human Rights CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscrimination complaints must first be considered by the Commission before referral to ACAT. Also handles conversion practice complaints and retirement village disputes through conciliation.
• Access CanberracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFair Trading conciliation agreements can be referred to ACAT for orders. Young people under 14 apply through Access Canberra for change of identity details.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT): QCAT is Queensland's generalist civil and administrative tribunal with jurisdiction over similar case types (civil disputes, tenancy, guardianship, discrimination). Directly comparable in mandate and structure to ACAT.
• NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT): NCAT consolidates numerous dispute resolution functions in NSW under a single tribunal structure, mirroring ACAT's super-tribunal model across a much larger caseload.
• Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT): VCAT is Victoria's equivalent super tribunal, handling civil disputes, tenancy, guardianship, and administrative reviews. It is the most direct structural analogue to ACAT and competes only by jurisdiction rather than by market.
• South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT): SACAT is South Australia's consolidated tribunal handling civil, administrative, and guardianship matters. Closely comparable in scope and the small-jurisdiction super-tribunal design that ACAT follows.
• Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT): NTCAT is the NT's generalist tribunal covering civil, residential tenancy, and administrative review matters. Comparable in size and mandate to ACAT.

Others

• ACT Human Rights Commission: The ACT HRC handles discrimination complaints and conciliation that may be referred to ACAT. It is a key upstream referral partner in the same dispute resolution ecosystem.
• Legal Aid ACT: Legal Aid ACT provides free legal assistance to ACAT users, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is a core mutual referral partner rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• ACT Magistrates Court: The ACT Magistrates Court is the state's general-jurisdiction trial court and shares the same JACS Directorate parent as ACAT. It handles criminal and higher-value civil matters excluded from ACAT's jurisdiction.
• ACT Supreme Court: The ACT Supreme Court hears appeals from ACAT and matters outside ACAT's jurisdiction. It is the ultimate appellate destination for ACAT decisions and shares the same JACS administrative umbrella.

Regional players

• Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT): The federal AAT handles Commonwealth-level administrative review. It overlaps with ACAT's government-decision review function but at federal rather than ACT jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actgov

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACAT