Local justice

In the past relatively minor matters have become bogged down in the courts with costly legal fees. A new tribunal, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) will hear matters pertaining to residential tenancy, retirement villages, residential parks, guardianship, mental health, consent to treatment, housing appeals and land valuation appeals.

This is a great and low cost initiative at dealing will the relatively minor matters that impact so many people.

Here are more details issued by the Attorney-General's Department …

The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – SACAT – will open its doors to the public on Monday 30 March 2015, and will be the first of its kind in the State. 

The new Tribunal will be the place to bring a broad range of civil and administrative cases, with the tribunal making and reviewing decisions that are currently taken by a range of bodies such as specialist boards, tribunals and Courts; and commissioners and ministers. 

Cases in the following areas will be transferred to SACAT when the new Tribunal opens: residential tenancy; retirement villages; residential parks; guardianship and administration; mental health; consent to treatment; housing appeals; and land valuation appeals. 

SACAT will:

·                enable people to apply via a single online form

·                emphasise mediation and conciliation, in addition to traditional hearings

·                focus on accessibility, particularly for users with special needs.

Sign up for sacat-news to keep up-to-date and read more at: www.sacat.sa.gov.au

Interested in volunteering at SACAT?

We are seeking expressions of interest from people who are interested and able to join our dedicated volunteer team. SACAT volunteers will provide assistance and support to users who attend the Tribunal at both our Adelaide CBD and Collinswood locations.

Our volunteers are from a range of backgrounds and their responsibilities include:

·                meeting and greeting SACAT users

·                registering attendance for hearings, conferences, conciliations or mediations

·                providing information to users about SACAT’s facilities.

See  www.sacat.sa.gov.au/home/whats-new/volunteers for further information and details on how to apply.