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Koori support
If you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, find out how we can help you at VCAT.
Artwork: Mick Harding, Taungurung artist
Helping Aboriginal people come to VCAT
Our Koori Support Team have plenty of experience working in our community – for our community. We have culturally safe options to come to a VCAT hearing, including Koori hearing rooms you can book.
Get in touch
Call or text our Koori Helpline on 0417 516 335, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4.30pm.
Or email koori.support@vcat.vic.gov.au.
Watch our video to find out how our team can help you at VCAT.
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Connect with our team
Our Koori Support Team can help you feel less anxious about the experience. We can:
Help you understand what a letter from VCAT means and what to do next.
Help clear up misunderstandings. For example, what to do if you’re a tenant and you get a Notice to Vacate. Or whether you need to pay an application fee.
Connect you to legal and support services such as Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Victoria Legal Aid or Family Violence services.
Come with you to your hearing to help you feel more supported, but we can’t speak for you.
Hear Aaron’s story to find out how the team can make your experience with VCAT as easy as possible.
Case studies
Aboriginal people come to VCAT to solve a range of issues. You can read some of their stories here. Each story has tips to help you, if you’re facing the same problem.
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"I’m afraid of getting evicted"
If you’re behind on rent, you can try and negotiate a payment plan to stay in your home.
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"I want to support a family member"
Help someone who can no longer make decisions about money or where they live.
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"I need repairs in my home"
If your landlord won’t fix urgent repairs, you can apply to VCAT.
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"I need a refund"
If you didn’t get what you paid for, you can ask for a refund.
Prepare for your hearing
Watch a video to find out what happens at a hearing and how you can prepare.
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Book a Koori hearing room
If you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can ask for a Koori hearing room at VCAT.
A Koori hearing room is a place where you can feel comfortable in your surroundings. It has been smoked and has Aboriginal flags, artwork and possum skin cloaks. An acknowledgment of the traditional owners of the land can take place at the start of your hearing.
How to book
Call or text the Koori Helpline on 0417 516 335, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4.30pm or book now by email.
Let us know at least five business days before your hearing if you can.
Get Koori friendly advice
If you’re not sure about your rights, it’s a good idea to get advice early on.
These organisations may be able to help you. You can talk to someone, explain your issue and get good advice.
If you’re not sure about your rights, it’s a good idea to get advice early on.
These organisations may be able to help you. You can talk to someone, explain your issue and get good advice.
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
Legal advice for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. Call 1800 064 865.
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA)
Legal advice. Face to face Aboriginal community support in Morwell, Shepparton and Mildura. State wide support by phone.
Consumer Action Koori Help
Legal advice on utility bills, debt, payday loans and your consumer rights. Call 1800 574 457.
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Information and advice on your renting and consumer rights. Call 1300 55 81 81 and select the Koori option.
Office of the Public Advocate
Advice on supporting a person if they can no longer make decisions. Call 1300 309 337.
Help and support
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What can I do if I’m affected by family violence?
If you’re affected by family or personal violence and the situation is urgent, call triple zero (000).
VCAT has a family violence support worker to help you at VCAT. Our support worker can:
- help you understand the VCAT process
- help you fill out the application
- connect you to other services for ongoing support
- support you during the VCAT hearing and help you attend the hearing remotely so you can avoid contact with the other person.
Contact our family violence support worker during business hours on 03 9628 9856.
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What can I do if I’m facing eviction?
If you’ve been sent a copy of a notice to vacate or a copy of an application for possession by your rental provider (landlord), and you’re worried about eviction, the first thing to do is to speak to them.
You may be able to come to an agreement without coming to VCAT. For example, work out a payment plan if you’re behind on rent.
If you get a notice or message from us telling you to come to VCAT, this means the rental provider is asking us to make a decision about the situation. Don’t ignore this notice – it’s important you come to VCAT to have your say. You may even be able to reach an agreement on the day.
If you are a renter (tenant) who is being taken to VCAT due to unpaid rent and you want a payment plan, use the financial circumstances statement to give us details about your financial situation.
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What happens if I can’t come to VCAT?
If you can’t come to VCAT in person or on the scheduled date for a serious reason (for example, you have a disability, are away or unwell) you have a few options. You can:
- ask to attend by phone – VCAT decides if this is fair to all parties.
- apply to change the date (adjourn) two business days before you’re due to come. For a final hearing, you must do this at least five business days before.
- ask for permission to give someone the authority to come in your place. This is different from having a legal or professional representative.
Template of written authority for someone to represent you
Use this template to give someone authority to represent you. We call this person an ‘agent’.
I, <NAME> (or Your Company Pty Ltd, if a company),, a party in the VCAT case reference number xxxxx/20xx wish to be represented at VCAT.
I give permission for <representative's name and occupation> (add 'employed by the company' if you're a company) to represent me.
The agent has sufficient knowledge of the issues in dispute and has my permission to bind me to any settlement.Date xx/xx/xx
Signed:______________ Name:______________ Position:______________
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What happens if I miss my hearing?
What happens if you miss the hearing depends on if you’re the applicant or the respondent.
- If you’re the applicant and you don’t come to the hearing, the hearing can’t go ahead and your application may be dismissed or struck out
- If you’re a respondent and you don’t come, VCAT may make a decision that affects you and can be enforced by a court. For example, the member could make an order for costs against you.
If you have a reasonable reason for not coming, and you didn’t have someone come for you, you may be able to apply for a review and rehearing (called ‘reopening an order’).
You need to make this application within 14 days of finding out about the order. We may not agree to your request if you do not have a good reason for not attending. -
What can I do if I can’t pay the fees?
You automatically don’t need to pay any fees if you meet certain criteria.
For everyone else, if you believe paying VCAT fees would cause you financial hardship, you can apply for fee relief at the same time you apply to VCAT.
If we agree, this means we may:
- waive the fee
- reduce the amount you have to pay
- postpone the amount you have to pay.
Any individual can apply for fee relief, including people who don’t have a concession card, but you must meet eligibility criteria. We’ll ask you to give us a summary of your personal financial situation to support your application.
You only need to apply once. Our decision applies to all VCAT fees you’re asked to pay in your case.