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 the COAT Secretariat, on 0418 281 116 or at info@coat.asn.au
2026 COAT NSW Conference
Join us for the 2026 COAT NSW Conference, exploring how tribunals and their members can maintain performance under pressure and better serve their communities.
The program will cover inclusive practice, access to justice, emerging challenges in tribunal work, and member wellbeing.
View the full program, speakers and registration details on the conference webpage.
2026 Professional Development Courses
Online Induction Program
The Online Induction Program is COAT’s flagship professional development course, designed to support recently appointed Tribunal members — including those with specialist expertise and without legal backgrounds.
Developed and reviewed by a committee of Tribunal experts, the program offers practical guidance on procedural fairness, fact-finding, decision writing, and conducting hearings (including managing self-represented applicants).
Delivered online and self-paced, it combines flexible learning with expert feedback, interactive activities, and two live Teams Meet-ups with senior Tribunal members and the COAT Education Consultant.
2026 Course Dates:
- 13 April – 26 June
- 24 August – 31 October
Cost: $595 + GST. Limited to 20 participants per intake.
Intakes for the 2026 Online Induction Program are now closed.
Details of the 2027 program, including course dates and enrolment information, will be available soon.
Introduction to Decision Writing (Online)
This short, intensive online program helps Tribunal members strengthen their decision-writing skills and gain confidence in preparing clear, reasoned, and persuasive decisions.
Designed primarily for members with less than two years’ experience, the program is also ideal as a refresher for more experienced members. Delivered over three weeks, participants will explore decision structure, complying with the obligation to give adequate reasons, and techniques for writing concise, cogent and timely reasons
2026 Course Dates:
- 20 April – 8 May
- 13 July – 31 July
- 14 September – 2 October
- 2 November – 20 November (NEW)
Cost: $495 + GST. Limited to 20 participants per intake.
Advanced Decision Writing (Online) 26-27
This advanced online course is designed for experienced Tribunal members seeking to deepen their decision-writing expertise.
Through a series of in-depth interviews with leading judicial officers — including Justices Jagot, Leeming, Griffith, Pepper, and Deputy President McCabe — participants explore real-world challenges in complex decision writing.
Topics include findings of fact where evidence is finely balanced, dealing with technical or voluminous material, exercising discretion, and structuring multi-issue decisions.
Each interview is paired with practical exercises to reinforce learning and support reflection on personal writing practice.
2026–27 Course Dates:
- 1 March – 30 April
- 1 July – 31 August
- 1 September – 31 October
- 1 November 2026 – 15 January 2027
Cost: $500 (members) | $650 (non-members) + GST.
LATEST VACANCIES
Full-time Deputy President
Mental Health Review Tribunal
The President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal is seeking expressions of interest from current or former judicial officers for appointment as a full-time Deputy President.
The Deputy President provides legal and judicial leadership across the Tribunal’s Civil and Forensic Divisions and, with the President and other full-time Deputy Presidents, supports the work of approximately 180 sessional legal, psychiatrist and other suitably qualified members.
The role involves determining matters that directly affect liberty, treatment, dignity and rights, including reviews of involuntary patients and community treatment orders, financial management and electroconvulsive therapy matters, and reviews of forensic patients.
The successful candidate will bring sound judgement, experience in mental health law or a closely related jurisdiction, and the ability to assess risk and make decisions about the care, treatment and control of people detained in secure facilities or conditionally released into the community.
The appointment is for a fixed term under the Mental Health Act 2007; current salary and allowance information is available in the SOORT determinations.
For further information please see the Tribunal website or contact the Registrar at MHRT-Registrar@health.nsw.gov.au.
How to apply
Email a cover letter and CV to the attention of the President via MHRT-Registrar@health.nsw.gov.au, by COB 16 October 2026.
Your cover letter should explain why you wish to be appointed, how you would contribute to the Tribunal’s work, and your relevant mental health law, judicial and management experience.
Please also provide the names and contact details of two referees. Appointment is subject to Ministry of Health governance requirements, including referee checks and consent to a criminal record check.
SESSIONAL ARBITRATORS
The WorkCover WA Workers Compensation Arbitration Service determines workers compensation disputes in a manner that is fair, just, economical, informal and efficient.
Key Responsibilities
Arbitrators are responsible for resolving, by binding determination, disputes between the parties to a workers’ compensation claim. WorkCover WA engages sessional arbitrators on a contractual basis to assist with management of the dispute caseload and work may be allocated to sessional arbitrators by the Registrar of the Workers’ Compensation Arbitration Service.
Sessional Arbitrators are appointed via a statutory designation under the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 (the Act).
Sessional Arbitrators are required to comply with the conduct and engagement protocols of WorkCover WA.
Duties
Hear and determine workers’ compensation disputes in accordance with the Act by:
- presiding over arbitration hearings and making final and binding determinations on disputed claims for compensation in accordance with the Act;
- presiding over directions and interlocutory hearings and issuing interlocutory and case management orders in disputes
- producing timely written reasons for determination identifying the findings of fact and law applied in coming to that determination;
- conducting proceedings in accordance with the Arbitration Rules.
Undertake the duties of an arbitrator in accordance with the professional and administrative requirements set by the Registrar and the Arbitration Service.
Work collaboratively with the staff of the Arbitration Service to produce high quality and timely decisions.
Work with the electronic case management system in use in the Arbitration Service.
WorkCover WA is currently seeking applications from experienced legal practitioners for engagement as sessional Arbitrators. To undertake this role, you must be a legal practitioner as defined in the Legal Profession Uniform Law, with at least 5 years of experience in a legal role post-admission and a current practicing certificate.
Suitable applicants will be placed in the sessional Arbitrator pool and may be considered for sessional work over the next 12 months, with the possibility of extension. Work as a sessional Arbitrator may be allocated by the Registrar, Arbitration. Engagement provides no guarantee of allocation of work.
For further information about the role please contact Ms Dilhari Gustavino, A/Registrar Arbitration on 9388 5566.
To apply for this role applicants are required to submit the following documents to human.resources@workcover.wa.gov.au :
- A written application of no more than 3 pages addressing the Key responsibilities and Duties; and
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 5 pm.
