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Mediations and compulsory conferences

When you come to VCAT, you may attend a mediation or a compulsory conference. This depends on your dispute. Find out more about how mediations and compulsory conferences work.

Mediations

Mediations are private meetings where parties come together to discuss ways to reach an agreement (settle) with the help of a mediator.

Compulsory conferences

At a compulsory conference, the parties confidentially discuss ways to resolve their dispute with the help of a VCAT member. All parties must come.

End a case by dismissal or strike out

When you respond to an application against you, you can ask for VCAT to dismiss a case or end it in a strike out.

Apply for an injunction (an order to do or stop doing something)

In some cases, VCAT can make an order for a party to do or stop doing something that may cause damage to another party. This is called an injunction.

Settle before the hearing

Even if an application has been made against you, you can still try to resolve the dispute with the other party without going to VCAT.

Types of hearings

Find out about the different types of hearings we hold at VCAT and what happens in them.

Directions hearings

At a directions hearing a VCAT member decides how the case should be managed and how much time it will take.

Practice day hearings

In a practice day hearing a VCAT member makes decisions about who can be part of the case, how the dispute should be managed and how much time it will take.

Preliminary hearings

Preliminary hearings are held only for some cases. We hold preliminary hearings to resolve issues that need to be decided on before the final hearing.