High Court of Australia (opens in a new tab)
Australia's highest court, deciding constitutional cases and final appeals from all other courts.
Public resources
Official websites for Australia's courts, tribunals and industrial commissions, federal, state and territory.
62 official links, checked 3 November 2026. Vantage Workplace Advisory is not affiliated with these bodies.
Contact usFederal
8 linksFederal Court of Australia (opens in a new tab)
Hears federal civil cases, including Fair Work Act claims, corporations, bankruptcy and consumer law disputes.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (opens in a new tab)
Hears family law and general federal law cases, including Fair Work small claims for unpaid entitlements.
Fair Work Commission (opens in a new tab)
Australia's national workplace relations tribunal for unfair dismissal, enterprise agreements, awards and workplace disputes.
Administrative Review Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
Replaced the AAT in October 2024 and reviews federal government decisions, including Commonwealth workers' compensation.
National Native Title Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
Mediates native title matters and keeps the national registers of native title claims and land use agreements.
Australian Competition Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
Reviews certain competition and merger decisions, including decisions about access to nationally significant infrastructure.
Copyright Tribunal of Australia (opens in a new tab)
Decides the terms of copyright licences offered by collecting societies when the parties cannot agree.
Western Australia
10 linksSupreme Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
WA's highest court, hearing the most serious criminal trials, major civil claims and appeals.
District Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
WA's intermediate trial court for serious criminal charges and mid-sized civil claims.
Magistrates Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
WA's first-tier court for most criminal charges, smaller civil claims and restraining orders.
Family Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
A state court exercising both state and federal family law jurisdiction in WA.
Children's Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
Hears criminal charges against young people aged 10 to 17 and child protection matters.
Coroners Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
Investigates reportable deaths in WA, including deaths at work.
State Administrative Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
WA's civil and administrative tribunal for reviews of government decisions, discrimination claims and many civil disputes.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (opens in a new tab)
The industrial tribunal for WA state system employers, covering unfair dismissal, awards, agreements and disputes.
Industrial Magistrates Court of Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
Enforces WA awards, industrial agreements and legislated minimum entitlements, including unpaid wage claims.
WorkCover WA Conciliation and Arbitration Services (opens in a new tab)
Resolve WA workers compensation disputes through conciliation and, where needed, binding arbitration.
New South Wales
10 linksSupreme Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
NSW's highest court, hearing the largest civil claims, the most serious criminal cases and appeals.
District Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
NSW's intermediate trial court for serious criminal cases, mid-range civil claims and Local Court appeals.
Local Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
Where all criminal cases and most civil cases in NSW begin, including smaller civil claims.
Land and Environment Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
Specialist court for planning, environmental, mining and land disputes.
Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
NSW's industrial tribunal for state awards, agreements, disputes and unfair dismissals, also sitting as the Industrial Court.
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) (opens in a new tab)
One-stop tribunal for tenancy, building, guardianship, discrimination and administrative review matters.
Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
Resolves NSW workers compensation and motor accident disputes.
Children's Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
Hears care and protection matters and criminal cases involving young people under 18.
Coroners Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
Investigates certain deaths, fires and explosions, and can recommend safety improvements.
Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
A court that hears damages claims for dust diseases, including asbestos-related illness.
Victoria
7 linksSupreme Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab)
Victoria's highest court, hearing the most serious criminal trials, large civil claims and appeals.
County Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab)
Victoria's intermediate court for serious crime, larger civil claims and appeals from the Magistrates' Court.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab)
Victoria's busiest court, deciding most criminal matters and many civil disputes.
Children's Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab)
Specialist court for criminal and child protection matters involving children and young people.
Coroners Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab)
Investigates certain deaths and fires to help prevent similar incidents.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) (opens in a new tab)
Hears civil, administrative, discrimination, planning and tenancy disputes in Victoria.
Workplace Injury Commission (opens in a new tab)
Resolves Victorian workers compensation disputes through conciliation and arbitration.
Queensland
9 linksSupreme Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Queensland's highest court, hearing the most serious criminal and civil cases and appeals through the Court of Appeal.
District Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Queensland's intermediate court for serious criminal charges, mid-sized civil claims and Magistrates Court appeals.
Magistrates Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Where most criminal charges and smaller civil claims in Queensland are heard.
Planning and Environment Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Specialist court for planning and development disputes.
Land Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Specialist court for land valuation, compensation and mining matters.
Childrens Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Hears criminal and child protection matters involving young people.
Coroners Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
Investigates reportable deaths in Queensland.
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (opens in a new tab)
Queensland's industrial tribunal for state awards, disputes and work-related discrimination, alongside the Industrial Court of Queensland.
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) (opens in a new tab)
Resolves civil and building disputes and reviews Queensland Government decisions.
South Australia
8 linksSupreme Court of South Australia (opens in a new tab)
SA's superior court for the most serious criminal matters, major civil cases and appeals.
District Court of South Australia (opens in a new tab)
SA's principal trial court for civil, criminal, administrative and criminal injuries matters.
Magistrates Court of South Australia (opens in a new tab)
Handles most of SA's litigation and is where every criminal matter begins.
Environment, Resources and Development Court (opens in a new tab)
Specialist court for land development, environment and natural resources disputes.
Youth Court of South Australia (opens in a new tab)
Hears youth criminal, child protection, adoption and surrogacy matters.
Coroners Court of South Australia (opens in a new tab)
Investigates the circumstances of deaths and disappearances in SA.
South Australian Employment Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
Resolves SA employment, industrial and return to work disputes, and sits as a court in some matters.
South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) (opens in a new tab)
Resolves housing, guardianship and other civil matters, and reviews SA Government decisions.
Tasmania
4 linksSupreme Court of Tasmania (opens in a new tab)
Tasmania's highest court, hearing serious criminal trials, major civil cases and appeals.
Magistrates Court of Tasmania (opens in a new tab)
Tasmania's first-tier court for most criminal matters and smaller civil claims.
Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) (opens in a new tab)
Tasmania's civil and administrative tribunal, with streams for anti-discrimination, personal compensation and administrative review.
Tasmanian Industrial Commission (opens in a new tab)
Tasmania's industrial tribunal, mainly for the State Service, covering awards, agreements and disputes.
Australian Capital Territory
3 linksACT Supreme Court (opens in a new tab)
The ACT's superior court for major civil claims, serious crime and appeals from the Magistrates Court and ACAT.
ACT Magistrates Court (opens in a new tab)
Hears most criminal matters and mid-sized civil claims, and also sits as the Industrial, Childrens and Coroners Courts.
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) (opens in a new tab)
Handles smaller civil disputes, discrimination, tenancy, guardianship and reviews of ACT Government decisions.
Northern Territory
3 linksSupreme Court of the Northern Territory (opens in a new tab)
The NT's highest court for serious criminal trials, major civil claims and appeals.
Local Court of the Northern Territory (opens in a new tab)
The NT's first-tier court for most criminal and civil cases, whose judges also sit as the Work Health Court.
Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) (opens in a new tab)
The NT's main forum for smaller legal disputes and reviews of government decisions.