The Disputes Tribunal is currently seeking expressions of interest for the role of Referee in the following regions:

• WELLINGTON
• INVERCARGILL
• ROTORUA
• PALMERSTON NORTH
• HAMILTON

The Disputes Tribunal is a division of the District Court that hears civil claims up to a value of $60,000.00. The jurisdiction of the Tribunal includes contract, commercial, consumer and property damage claims. Referees are appointed as judicial officers by warrant from the Governor- General on the advice of the Associate Minister of Justice. Most Referees begin by sitting between 2-4 days a week. The role is able to be part time or full time.

Referees conduct hearings either remotely or in a hearing room at the District Court. During the hearing, the Referee may facilitate a resolution, or if this is not possible, provide a written decision on the matter. This decision has the status of a District Court order. As a judicial officer working in a Tribunal setting, you would need to have strong legal and analytical abilities, hold relevant qualifications in law, mediation or arbitration, and enjoy working with people from all walks of life to help them resolve their differences. Full training is provided. Referees are paid $980.00 per sitting day.

Successful candidates will show abilities in listening, assessing information, making decisions, relating to a wide variety of people, responding sensitively to cultural differences, expressing themselves clearly, and be able to engage in alternative ways of resolving disputes. A Referee also needs to show common sense and practical judgement and must be able to act with fairmindedness and impartiality. The criteria for assessment are set out in R38 of the Disputes Tribunal Rules 1989.

To begin the application process, please send an expression of interest to disputestribunal@justice.govt.nz. An application pack will then be sent to you. All completed applications need to be returned to the same email address by 5:00pm on Tuesday, 24 November 2026.

About the opportunity

The Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) is a specialist, high-volume tribunal providing independent merits review of decisions concerning the entitlements and compensation of veterans, serving members of the Australian Defence Force and their families. The VRB seeks to resolve applications fairly, informally, efficiently and at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

Applications are invited for appointment as part-time Senior Members, Services Members and Members in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. Regional applicants are welcome; however, the Board cannot pay travel costs to a Board office for applicants based outside these locations. Approved interstate travel for sittings is paid in accordance with applicable Remuneration Tribunal allowances.

Appointments are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs for a term of up to five years.

Remuneration and work arrangements

Remuneration and allowances are set by the Remuneration Tribunal. Currently, the daily fee is $1,078 for a Senior Member and $923 for a Services Member or Member.

Work is sessional and scheduled quarterly in three-month blocks. Members indicate their availability and may be offered sittings during the relevant period. Because workload varies, no minimum amount of work is guaranteed.

On dispute resolution days, members will usually conduct five outreach events of approximately 15–30 minutes each. On hearing days, three applications are generally listed in the morning, with preparation before hearings and completion of reasons ordinarily occurring that day. Members must be available for full business hours on sitting days and able to prepare clear reasons and work collaboratively on multi-member panels.

Successful applicants will receive induction training and are expected to participate in the Board’s continuing professional education program, Learn and Connect.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential requirements

– Ability to manage cases using dispute resolution skills and conduct hearings fairly and efficiently.
– Ability to make decisions and deliver clear, concise and cogent oral and written reasons in a timely manner.
– Conceptual and analytical skills, including identifying relevant issues, determining facts, interpreting and applying legislation, and assessing competing arguments and evidence.
– Experience with electronic case management systems, digital material and virtual hearings using Microsoft Teams.
– Ability to contribute to multi-member panels and professional education.
– Organisational skills, including meeting deadlines and working under pressure.
– Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
– Integrity, impartiality, tact and courtesy.

Desirable attributes

– Knowledge of issues affecting veterans, serving ADF members and their families.
– Medical or health professional experience.

Applicants interested in appointment as a Services Member must submit a nomination/ recommendation letter from a national ex-service organisation for appointment to the VRB.

How to apply

Email the completed application form and all supporting documents to VRB.Member.Appointments@vrb.gov.au by no later than 5pm Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

The assessment process will be run in accordance with the Australian Government’s Appointment Framework.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria. Suitable applicants may be shortlisted for interview. The appointment process is detailed, and applicants should allow up to six months between the close of applications and notification of outcomes.

For further information, contact the Executive Officer, Ms Ariane Mandavy, on 0475 167 644.

Further information about the positions, including the application process, is available at:

• Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Senior Members, Service Members and Members
• Careers at the VRB | Veterans’ Review Board
• Job Details | APS Jobs

Application documentation

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.