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Apply for an NCAT review

Information about how to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for an administrative review of the internal review decision of Victims Services.

Get your supporting documents

Before you start your application, you should get all the supporting documents that you want to attach to your application. Depending on the reasons for your application, this may include a copy of:

  • Victims Services letter with original decision
  • Victims Services letter with internal review decision
  • your pension card
  • your student identification card
  • a letter from Legal Aid or the CLC representing you
  • police report
  • medical report.

How to apply

You will need to complete the Administrative review application form

If you want to apply to have your filing fee waived, you can complete the Request for fee waiver form.

You can get copies of these forms from:

In your form you must include:

  • the details of the respondent – the Commissioner of Victims Rights
  • the address of Victims Services
  • your contact details
  • the date of the original decision by Victims Services and the decision of the internal review
  • a copy of the Victim Services letters
    • with the original decision, and
    • internal review decision
  • the grounds for your application, which is a brief outline of why you think the internal review decision is wrong.

Filing your completed form

After you are told about the outcome of the internal review you have 28 days to file your completed form and supporting documents. You can’t file your application online, by email or fax. You can file it:

  • in person, at your nearest NCAT registry, or
  • by post to
NCAT
Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division and Occupational Division
PO Box K1026
Haymarket NSW 1240

You can find the nearest registry on the Contact us page on the NCAT website.

Filing fee

You will need to pay a filing fee when you submit your application. You can find the current fee on the Fees at NCAT page on the NCAT website.

If you are in financial hardship, you can apply for a reduced fee or a fee waiver. For more information, see Reduced fees and fee waivers on the NCAT website.

Your application won’t be processed until you have paid the filing fee or been given a fee waiver.

Extension of time

If you file your application after 28 days, you need to ask for an extension of time. You need to have a good reason for why you didn’t lodge your application within the time limit.

Before you file your completed form, you should make a copy for yourself.

Once your application has been processed, NCAT will send you a Notice with the details of the directions hearing that you must attend. You will also be sent documents from Victims Services responding to your application.

The directions hearing

The purpose of the directions hearing is to discuss how your application can be resolved and prepare the matter for hearing.

If your matter is going to a hearing, NCAT will usually make Orders for:

  • you to file and serve your evidence and submissions
  • Victims Services to prepare and serve their response.

You may be asked to prepare your submissions in a statement or affidavit.

You can get a copy of a blank NCAT Affidavit on the Forms page on the NCAT website.

When preparing your submissions, you should carefully read the documents that Victims Services send you so that you know what to respond to.

For more information about how to prepare your submissions, see:

It is important that you follow all directions, including serving your evidence and submissions on Victims Services by the date in the directions. NCAT won’t serve your documents on Victims Services, you must do this yourself.

For more information, see Evidence and witnesses on the NCAT website.

The hearing

The hearing will be heard by a Tribunal Member. Their job is to consider whether Victims Services made the right decision. They will take a fresh look at your application.

Usually, Victims Services will present their case first.

You will then be given the opportunity to present your case.

For more information, see On the hearing day on the NCAT website.

The decision

After the hearing, you may get a decision on the day. However, in most cases the decision will be given on a later date to allow the Tribunal Member time to consider the case. NCAT aims to give you a decision within two months when the hearing ends. However, more complex matters may take longer.   

NCAT may:

  • affirm (confirm) the internal review decision of Victims Services
  • vary (change) the internal review decision, either fully or partially
  • make a new decision about your application for Victims Support
  • order Victims Services to reconsider your internal review application.

If your application is dismissed, the internal review decision will stand.

NCAT can’t make an order for costs in this type of case.

If you are unhappy with the decision of NCAT, you can’t appeal to the NCAT Appeal Panel. However, you may be able to appeal to the Supreme Court of NSW.

Appeal to the Supreme Court of NSW

If you are unhappy with the decision of NCAT, you may be able to appeal to the Supreme Court of NSW on a point of law. This means that you need to show that NCAT made a legal error or incorrectly applied to the law in your case. The Court can’t reconsider whether NCAT made the right decision.

You must file your appeal within 28 days of the date of the decision. In some limited circumstances, you may be able to apply for an extension.

Before you file an appeal, it is important that get legal advice.

For more information, see Appeal to the Supreme Court of NSW.

Last updated: March 2026

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