The Hearing Process

On this page:

SSAT Hearings
Face-to-Face Hearings
Telephone Hearings
Video-conference Hearings
Regional Hearings
The Decision

SSAT Hearings

Hearings are held in an informal environment. Telephone hearings are sometimes held, if convenient for the applicant or added parties. To ensure the accessibility of its services to those living outside metropolitan areas, the SSAT also conducts hearings in regional centres throughout the country, by telephone and by video-conference.

The delivery of the hearing (whether face-to-face, by telephone or video-conference) does not affect the process or outcome. Please contact your nearest SSAT office to discuss the most suitable hearing method for your appeal.

Face-To-Face Hearings

Most SSAT hearings are conducted face-to-face with the applicant, other parties to the appeal (if applicable) and the SSAT members in the same room. This reflects the view that the interests of applicants and other parties are usually best served and protected when members, applicants and other parties have the opportunity to speak directly in an informal environment.

The hearing itself is less formal than a court: it is a discussion between the applicant, other parties (if applicable) and SSAT members. Centrelink appeal hearings usually last up to an hour.

Applicants and other parties to an appeal are encouraged to provide information regarding their situation. Often, it is this additional information that assists the SSAT in making a decision. It’s a good idea for applicants and other parties to keep a copy of the information they provide to the SSAT.

In Centrelink appeal cases, no-one from Centrelink comes to the hearing. Instead, Centrelink puts its case to the SSAT in paper documents. Before the hearing, the SSAT sends a copy of these Centrelink papers to the person appealing.

A person attending a hearing may wish to be represented (at their own expense) by a legal representative, advocate or welfare worker. In most instances applicants will still need to personally participate in the hearing, as a representative may make submissions but would not normally be expected to be able to give evidence on your behalf. In Centrelink cases applicants may bring along a friend or family member for support.

The SSAT makes decisions quickly: usually, a person will receive their decision by post within two weeks of the hearing. This letter from the SSAT also provides information about further rights of appeal. In Centrelink appeal cases, the letter includes full written reasons for its decision for the SSAT's decision.
Telephone Hearings

In appropriate cases, hearings by telephone provide an alternative to face-to-face or video-conference hearings. These hearings are held when parties are not able to attend the hearing in person. SSAT members will call using a telephone with a loudspeaker so that everyone in the hearing room can hear the conversation.

To prepare for your telephone hearing, make sure the telephone you will use for the hearing is in a quiet, private room, with no distractions (if possible, make sure you won’t be interrupted during the call). Think about whether you will need to use a telephone with a loudspeaker, so that other people with you can speak to and hear the members.

As with all methods of hearings, a Case Manager will provide you with information at each step in the appeal process.

The delivery of the hearing (whether face-to-face, by telephone or video-conference) does not affect the process or outcome.

Video-conference Hearings

Where available, hearings by video-conference provide an alternative to telephone or face-to-face hearings. These hearings are held over a video link when parties are not able to attend the hearing in person. This means that parties are able to see and hear the SSAT members (and any other parties present) in the hearing room.

As with all methods of hearings, a Case Manager will provide you with information at each step in the appeal process.

The delivery of the hearing (whether face-to-face, by telephone or video-conference) does not affect the process or outcome.

Regional Hearings

To ensure the accessibility of its services to those living outside metropolitan areas, the SSAT conducts hearings in regional centres throughout the country.

Centrelink appeal hearings have been conducted in centres such as Launceston in Tasmania, Orange and Broken Hill in New South Wales, Cairns and Toowoomba in Queensland, Bunbury and Mandurah in Western Australia, Bendigo in Victoria, Mt Gambier in South Australia and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

If you live in a regional centre, please contact your nearest SSAT office to discuss the most suitable hearing method for your appeal.

The Decision

You will receive written notice of the SSAT's decision in the mail about 14 days after the hearing. In Centrelink cases, reasons for the decision will also be provided in writing. The SSAT’s decision is always expressed in the terms of the legislation – that is, to affirm (i.e. the decision is confirmed), vary or set aside the decision (i.e. the decision is changed).

If the SSAT cannot make a decision straight away, it will let you know within a few days of the hearing. Adjournments are only made if absolutely necessary.

Decisions should be read carefully. If English is not your first language, ask someone to explain it to you.

In reaching a decision, the SSAT takes into account:

• The evidence of the applicant, any other parties and Centrelink;
• The provisions of the relevant legislation;
• Relevant decisions of the AAT and the Courts;
• Centrelink or department policy relating to the issue under review; and
• The individual circumstances of each case.

The members constituting the SSAT usually reach a unanimous decision. In many cases, the decision is made at the end of the hearing.

The front page of the decision contains the name of the applicant, the name of any other parties, details of the decision under review, information about the hearing and the decision of the SSAT.