What to expect at an NCAT hearing: a practical guide
Start with your Notice of Listing. It tells you what has been listed and how to attend. A conciliation and hearing listing can include both settlement discussions and a decision on the day, so have your documents ready for the hearing as well as the discussion.
This guide focuses on Consumer and Commercial Division matters such as tenancy and consumer disputes. Use it alongside NCAT's official hearing preparation checklist and the directions in your own case.
Preparing to negotiate? See our conciliation guide. Unsure who can speak for you? Read NCAT representation and support options.
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Information, not legal advice. Figures current as at 24 August 2026.
What you need to know
An NCAT hearing is the Member hearing both sides and deciding the dispute. It can happen in person at a registry, by telephone, or by video — your Notice of Listing tells you which. The atmosphere is deliberately accessible: you don't wear robes, you usually sit at a table rather than stand in a dock, and the Member will often guide a self-rep through what they need.
That informality is real but it has limits. The Member still decides on the evidence, you still have to prove your case, and the order at the end is binding. "Informal" means the rules of evidence are relaxed and the Member helps you participate — it does not mean you can turn up without your documents and tell your story.
In the Consumer and Commercial Division, the Notice may combine conciliation and a hearing. Read it carefully and be ready for every step it lists; if no agreement is reached, the matter may be heard that day or follow another direction.
Time limits and key dates
These deadlines are strict. The Tribunal can extend in some cases, but extensions are not automatic — they're weighed on length, reason, prospects and prejudice.
- Before the listed timeAllow enough time to find the registry or join and test the virtual link, then check in as directedNotice of Listing and NCAT hearing guidance
- Listing timeYour Notice of Listing states the date, time and whether it's in person, phone or videoNotice of Listing
- Decision timingA decision may be given at the hearing or reserved and provided later; follow the Member's and Registry's instructionsNCAT after-hearing guidance
- 14 / 28 daysInternal appeal window — 14 days residential, 28 days most other mattersNCAT Act s80
The process, step by step
- 1
Arrive, find the registry and check in
Allow enough time to find the registry and check in before the listed time. Bring photo ID, your application reference and your evidence bundle in the form required by the Notice and directions. At the registry, tell counter staff your name and the matter — they'll point you to the right waiting area or hearing room and let the Member's list know you've arrived. If your hearing is by phone or video, log in or be reachable on time and in a quiet place.
If you're running late or can't make it, call the registry before the listing time. Not appearing can mean the matter is decided in your absence or dismissed.
- 2
The waiting room and the other side
You'll usually wait in a shared area with other parties, including the person you're in dispute with. It's normal and it's fine to keep your distance — you don't have to talk to them. Sometimes a conciliator or the other side will use this time to float a settlement. You can listen, but you don't have to agree to anything on the spot.
Use the wait to lay out your bundle, re-read your one-page chronology, and remind yourself of the orders you're asking for. Switch your phone off before entering the hearing room, as NCAT requires.
- 3
Help the Member find your evidence
Do not assume the Member has already read every document. Be ready to explain the orders you want, identify the disputed issues and point to the pages supporting your position. Follow the Member's directions about when to speak and how to present the material.
This is why a tidy, indexed bundle and a short chronology pay off — the easier you make it for the Member to follow, the better your day goes. See our evidence bundle guide for how to lay it out.
- 4
Conciliation first (often)
Many matters start with conciliation — an informal, without-prejudice attempt to settle, sometimes with the Member, sometimes with a separate conciliator. Anything said in conciliation generally can't be used against you at the hearing. If you reach agreement, the terms are written up as binding consent orders and you're finished. If you don't, the matter proceeds to a hearing.
Decide your bottom line beforehand. Know the number or outcome you'd accept so you can settle if it's offered — and walk to a hearing with a clear conscience if it isn't.
- 5
The hearing: opening and presenting evidence
The Member runs the hearing. As applicant you usually go first. Keep your opening short: who you are, what you're asking for, and the two or three points your case turns on. Then take the Member to your evidence — "as you'll see at tab 3, the repair request dated…". Refer to documents by where they sit in your bundle. Stick to facts and what the documents show; leave out the editorialising.
You may give your account, and the Member may ask you questions directly. Answer the question asked, point to the document that backs it, and stop. The respondent then puts their side, and the Member weighs both.
- 6
Cross-examination and questions
Cross-examination at NCAT is usually low-key — often the Member does most of the questioning rather than a barrister grilling you. If the other side or their representative asks you questions, stay calm, listen to the whole question, and answer only that. It's fine to say "I don't know" or "I'd need to check that document." Don't argue or talk over anyone; address your answers to the Member.
When it's your turn, you can put questions to the other side too — but ask focused factual questions, not speeches. See our guide on what to say to a Member for phrasing that lands.
- 7
The decision — oral or reserved
For most matters the Member gives an oral decision at the end with brief reasons; you can ask for written reasons. For complex or finely balanced matters the Member reserves the decision and sends it later in writing. Either way, listen carefully and write down exactly what's ordered — the amount, who pays whom, and by when.
If you don't understand the order, ask the Member to clarify before you leave. It's much harder to sort out later.
- 8
After the hearing
You'll receive the orders in writing. If you were awarded money and it isn't paid, you enforce the order through the Local Court — NCAT doesn't collect it for you. If you think the Member made a legal error, you may have an internal appeal: generally 28 days, but only 14 days for residential matters. Diarise the window immediately.
If you settled at conciliation, the consent orders are equally binding — keep your copy and comply with your side of them.
Evidence to prepare
Use the checklist below to organise relevant documents. Follow your Notice of Listing and any directions about what to file, serve and bring.
An indexed bundle in the required form
Follow the Notice and directions for filing, service and paper copies; keep your own paginated copy accessible.
A one-page chronology
Dates of every notice, payment and key communication. The Member's fastest way into your case.
The order you're asking for, written down
One clear sentence naming the outcome you want. It keeps your opening tight and tells the Member what to decide.
Your settlement number
The figure or outcome you'd accept at conciliation. Decide it before you arrive so you can settle on the day if it's offered.
Photo ID and application reference
For check-in. Have the reference number handy so registry staff can find your matter quickly.
Pen and paper
To write down the exact wording of the orders and any dates set for payment or next steps.
Common reasons people lose
Telling a story instead of pointing to evidence
The Member decides on what's proven. Long narratives without documents to back them up rarely move the needle — take the Member to the evidence.
Arguing or talking over people
Address the Member, not the other side. Interrupting, sniping or getting heated reads badly and wastes the limited time you have.
Ignoring the document directions
Late filing, failed service or the wrong format can affect whether material is used and whether the matter proceeds. Check early.
Answering more than the question asked
Under questioning, over-talking can hand the other side material. Answer the question, point to the document, stop.
Not knowing the order you want
If you can't say clearly what you're asking the Tribunal to do, the Member can't easily give it to you. Decide the order before you walk in.
Orders NCAT can make
This is the kind of order you can ask for — not a guarantee you'll get it. Frame your application around the order you actually want.
Consent orders (if you settle)
Terms agreed at conciliation, written up and made binding — the quickest way to finish.
Oral decision with brief reasons
The Member decides at the end of the hearing and states the order; written reasons can be requested.
Reserved written decision
For complex matters, the Member takes time and posts a written decision afterwards.
Money order
An order that one party pay the other a sum — enforceable through the Local Court if unpaid.
Work or compliance order
An order to do (or stop doing) something — for example, carry out repairs or rectify defects by a date.
Free help
- NCAT — preparing for your hearing
Official guidance on what to bring and what happens.
- NCAT — how NCAT works
Lodging, listings, conciliation, hearings and appeals.
- NCAT — appeal an NCAT decision
Grounds and time limits if you disagree with the outcome.
- LawAccess NSW — 1300 888 529
Free legal info line, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
- Tenants' Advice & Advocacy Services (TAAS)
Free advice and, for tenants, help preparing for NCAT.
- TribunalReady — free triage
Find your list, form, fee and deadlines — a few quick questions, about two minutes.
Questions self-reps ask
How formal is an NCAT hearing?
Much less formal than a court. You usually sit at a table, you don't need robes, and the Member often helps self-reps take part. But it's still a hearing — the Member decides on the evidence and the order is binding.
Informal means the rules of evidence are relaxed and you get help to participate, not that you can turn up without your documents. See our guide on what to wear for the practical detail.
Will the Member have read my file before the hearing?
Usually yes. Members commonly read the application and lodged documents before you walk in. So lead them to your key evidence and confirm the facts that matter, rather than reciting everything from scratch.
A tidy, indexed bundle and a one-page chronology make this far easier — see our evidence bundle guide for how to lay it out.
Do I go first?
As the applicant, you usually go first. Keep your opening short: who you are, the order you're asking for, and the two or three points the case turns on. Then take the Member to your evidence.
The respondent then puts their side, and the Member weighs both. See our guide on what to say to a Member for phrasing.
What is cross-examination like at NCAT?
Usually low-key. Often the Member does most of the questioning rather than a barrister grilling you. If you're asked questions, stay calm, listen to the whole question, and answer only that.
It's fine to say "I don't know" or "I'd need to check that document." Don't argue or talk over anyone, and address your answers to the Member.
Can I bring a support person?
A support person can help you prepare and provide informal support. Speaking on your behalf is representation and may require permission. Check the arrangements with NCAT before the day.
For Consumer and Commercial Division conciliation, NCAT's official FAQs say you need to ask the other party's permission for a support person to attend.
Will I get a decision on the day?
Often, yes. For most matters the Member gives an oral decision at the end with brief reasons, and you can ask for written reasons. For complex matters the decision is reserved and sent later in writing.
Either way, write down exactly what's ordered — the amount, who pays whom, and by when — and ask the Member to clarify anything you don't understand before you leave.
What should I not do at the hearing?
Don't tell a long story without pointing to evidence, don't argue with or talk over the other side, don't turn up without copies for the Member and the respondent, and don't answer more than the question asked.
Address the Member, stay calm, and stick to what your documents show. Getting heated or over-talking reads badly and wastes your limited time.
What happens if I don't show up?
Not appearing is risky. The matter may be decided in your absence on the other side's evidence, or your application may be dismissed.
If you can't attend or are running late, call the registry before the listing time to explain. Don't simply not turn up.
Related guides
- What to wear to an NCAT hearingHow to present without overthinking it.
- What to say to an NCAT MemberPhrasing that lands, and what to avoid.
- Build your NCAT evidence bundleAn indexed bundle the Member can follow at a glance.
- How long does NCAT take?Understand the stages and what can affect the wait for a decision.
Organise your evidence before hearing day
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TribunalReady is not a law firm. This page is information, not legal advice. Figures, fees and statutory periods cited here are current as at 24 August 2026 and are CPI-indexed or amended from time to time — verify on ncat.nsw.gov.au and legislation.nsw.gov.au before you lodge.