View a VCAT file

If you’re a party involved in a case, you can ask to view your file for free. If you’re not part of the case then you must pay a fee. This includes journalists.

Fees at VCAT

When you’re not a party involved in a case, you can apply and pay to view most VCAT files.

What you need

When you apply for file access, you need to give us one of the following:

names of all parties involved in the case
VCAT reference number
property address, if the case is about land – for example, a planning, building or land valuation dispute.

We may decide to tell the other parties in your case that you have asked to see a VCAT file. If they disagree, we may schedule a directions hearing to decide.

Access to documents for representatives

You can also access documents that are part of a case if you represent a party in the case. You may:

represent a party – for example, you are a tenant representative, real estate agent, professional advocate, solicitor or owners corporation manager)
advise or assist a party and have their permission to access documents.

Files that are not available to view

Some case files are not available to view because:

they relate to Freedom of Information Act 1982
there is an order that restricts access under section 146 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998
there is a suppression (non-publication) order
we no longer keep the information after 5 years.

How to view a VCAT file

You can look at most VCAT files if you arrange it with us.

If we approve your request, we can send hard copy files to your closest VCAT venue in Victoria.

Find a venue

When you arrive at our venue, you look at the files in a private room with security cameras. For files about human rights cases, a staff member will be with you when you view the files.

You can:

take photos of documents for free
photocopy documents for a fee.

You cannot:

remove any documents
publish, share or distribute copies or photos of the file material without our permission.

Hard copy files can also be scanned and emailed to you. Scanning can take some time to organise as it is managed by a third party. Please allow 10 business days for delivery of scanned files.

Some files are only available to view digitally and will be emailed to you after we receive your payment.

Download the form

Download our File and document access request form.

The last page of this form has instructions on how to submit. Your request may take up to 10 business days.

We’ll call or email you to let you know if we approve your request. If it’s approved, you can make a booking.

Make a booking

Bookings are for one hour, Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4 pm.

We can generally have a file ready to view within 48 hours, or in 3 business days for archived files that are stored in our offsite storage facility.

If you need more than one hour or want to bring more than one person with you, let us know when you book.

Contact us

Pay the fee (if it applies to you)

You pay a fee if you’re not party of the case and you want to view its file. Our fees are set by the Victorian Government.

Fees at VCAT

Pay when you arrive at the venue with:

credit card – Mastercard or Visa only
EFTPOS
cash – only at our 308 La Trobe Street venue
a money order made out to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

We don't accept cheques.

Information for journalists who apply to view a file

Our Media Team arranges file inspections for journalists.

We’ll tell you if you’re able to view a file at our Melbourne venue. In some circumstances, you can view a file at a VCAT suburban or regional venue on the day we attend at that venue. Please give us as much notice as possible if you want to do this. We may not be able to approve this request.

We may decide to notify the parties involved in the case about your request. If a party objects, we organise a directions hearing to decide whether to agree to your request.

We can generally have a file ready to view within 48 hours, or in three business days for archived files that are stored in our off-site storage facility. Contact our Media Team if your deadlines are more urgent. You can contact our Media Team at media@courts.vic.gov.au

Copies and photos of file material must not be published, shared or distributed without our permission.

When journalists ask to access a restricted file

Sometimes there is a legal order to restrict access to a file, including:

an order under section 146 of the VCAT Act
a suppression (non-publication) order.

Our Media Team can tell you if a file is restricted. You can contact our Media Team at media@courts.vic.gov.au

To access a file that’s been closed, write to the Principal Registrar and outline the reasons why access should be granted. Fill out the Application for directions hearings or orders as part of your application.

VCAT will either make a decision or organise a directions hearing to decide whether to give you access. We invite the parties of the case and the media outlet to attend this hearing.