COAT is the national body through which tribunals can come together to examine and compare ideas, working methods, organisation and management, member trainings and support programs.
About the Council of Australasian Tribunals
The COAT is intended to facilitate liaison and discussion between the heads of tribunals. It will support the development of best practice models and model procedural rules, standards of behaviour and conduct for members and increased capacity for training and support for members.
At the inaugural meeting on 6 June 2002 Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand tribunal heads supported a proposal for establishing a Council of Australasian Tribunals… Learn more
Contacting the Council of Australasian Tribunals
If you would like more information about COAT, please contact Ms Kathryn McKenzie, COAT Secretariat, on 0418 281 116 or at info@coat.asn.au
Latest News & Events
2024 COAT NSW Conference
Friday, 11 October 2024 at the Pullman Hotel on Hyde Park in Sydney – In-person only.
This year’s conference – Back Together – Back to Basics – will involve a mix of topics designed to enhance the knowledge and skills relevant to anyone working in tribunals. Commissioner the Honourable Paul Brereton will be the keynote speaker and will discuss the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Justice Brian Preston of the NSW Land and Environment Court will present on the topic of decision writing and Justice Kristina Stern of the NSW Supreme Court has agreed to deliver a paper on procedural fairness. Program now available! Early bird discounted fees closed 30 August – BOOK NOW! Please visit the conference website for further details and registration.
ADVANCED DECISION WRITING COURSE
Enrol now in COAT’s online Advanced Decision Writing course designed for experienced Tribunal members. The course features interviews and a series of exercises with some of Australia’s most respected decision-writers who discuss their approach to decision-writing: Justice Jayne Jagot (High Court of Australia), Justice Mark Leeming (NSW Court of Appeal), Justice John Griffith (A/ Justice of the Court of Appeal, formerly justice of the Federal Court of Australia), Justice Rachel Pepper (NSW Land and Environment Court) and Deputy President Bernard McCabe (Administrative Appeals Tribunal).
Note: Final course for 2024 commences 1 November.
2025 courses are scheduled for 1 March – 30 April; 1 July – 31 August; 1 September – 3 October.
COAT ON-LINE MEMBER INDUCTION PROGRAM
COAT’s on-line training program designed for recently appointed Tribunal members will continue to be offered. Please register your EOI online for the next intake 14 February – 2 May 2025, and 25 August – 24 October 2025, or contact our office at secretariat@coat.asn.au.
COAT’s professional development consultant, Dr Anne Bartlett-Bragg, can be contacted at education@coat.asn.au if you have any queries or requests in relation to professional development.
Additional programs are currently being reviewed and considered.
DECISION WRITING COURSES
COAT’s Decision Writing Courses are designed to improve decision writing skills through analysis, discussion and rewriting aspects of reasons for decision. Please contact our office to note your expression of interest to be included in the next courses, or if you would like an in-house group workshop, or to host a state-based workshop.
Our next 3-week Online Introductory Decision Writing Programs will be held 5-23 May 2025, and 15 September – 3 October 2025. Please register your EOI with our Secretariat at secretariat@coat.asn.au.
We will also be hosting an In-Person 1-Day Decision Writing Workshop in the Sydney CBD 28 March 2025 – details and program to be confirmed. We will also consider additional workshops in other locations and dates depending on demand. Please register your EOI with our Secretariat at secretariat@coat.asn.au.
LATEST VACANCIES
Presidential Member of the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal
Presidential members are appointed to hear and determine, mediate or conduct conferences about matters within the jurisdiction of the ACAT and exercise a range of functions given under Territory laws. Expressions of interest are sought from people who are lawyers and have been lawyers for 5 years or more.
Presidential Members are appointed to the ACAT for a term of 7 years. A merit list will be established to fill any further vacancies that arise in the next 12 months. Information regarding eligibility, remuneration and selection criteria may be obtained from www.justice.act.gov.au
Expressions of interest close on 21 October 2024. Late applications may be accepted at the panel’s discretion.
Please click here for further information.
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Senior Records Officer – Administrative Review Tribunal
Melbourne, Sydney
$82,616 – $87,608 per annum + 15.4% superannuation
- Ongoing – full time position
- Flexible working options, including flexi-time and remote working
- Christmas to New Year office closure with no deduction from your leave balance
The Senior Records Officer role is an opportunity for you to use your information and records management qualifications to gain experience in a Commonwealth agency, applying records authorities authorised under the Archives Act 1983 and to assist us to meet the recommended actions of the whole-of Australian-Government information management policies.
Ideally you will have an interest in governance and management of records in electronic and hard copy formats. Formal qualifications in Information Management/Records Management.
More information about this position, the scope of the role, duties and required capabilities and experience, is contained within the Position Description for this role, closing 27 October 2024, available from the Working at the ART page of our website, www.art.gov.au.
