COAT TRIBUNALS’ MODEL PRACTICE MANUAL

1. COAT TRIBUNALS’ MODEL PRACTICE MANUAL Livingston Armytage Centre for Judicial Studies armytagl@ozemail.com.au COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

2. OVERVIEW • Consultative process • COAT/AIJA Conference June 2003 • Members’ Workshops April 2004 • AAT National Needs Assessment • Tribunal models • Literature survey COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

3. RECOMMENDATION • COAT publishes Tribunals’ Model Practice Manual COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

4. AIM • Benchmark of competence and best practice • One-size-fits-all approach • Induction and continuing professional development needs • Law and other-trained members COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

5. “How to do it” guide • Stand-alone • Members may not have access to ancillary training and professional development resources • Not a legal monograph, text book, encyclopedia, or members terms-and-conditions manual COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

6. STRUCTURE Three parts: • Generic principles of tribunal processes – COAT • Jurisdiction specific applications for each tribunal – each tribunal • Personal notes – each member COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

7. CONTENT • Content of Part A as outlined in the table of contents COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

8. PART A – PRINCIPLES OF TRIBUNAL PROCESSES 1 Nature of Tribunals 2 Legal Framework 3 Principles of Tribunal Processes 4 Pre-hearing 5 Hearings COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

9. PART A – PRINCIPLES OF TRIBUNAL PROCESSES 6 Decision-making 7 Post-hearing 8 Communication 9 Case-flow Management 10 Conduct 11 References COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

10. PART B JURISDICTIONAL GUIDE • Jurisdiction, powers and functions of tribunal • Extracts of key statutes, regulations, rules • Selected case law, major decisions, commentaries, references COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

11. Guidelines to common and/or difficult applications • Hearing procedure checklists • Template forms, decisions and orders • Library resources, tables, bulletins COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

12. PART C PERSONAL NOTES • Selected precedents • Guidelines • Updates • Notes COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

13. APPROACH AND STYLE • Succinct comprehensive overview of law and procedure • Readily-accessible, practical explanations of “what to do and how to do it” • Checklists and references to primary resources • Written in plain language COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

14. MODELS Build on existing tribunal materials: • Social Security Appeals Tribunal Members’ Handbook • Workers Compensation Commission (NSW) Arbitrator’s Manual • VCAT • Others COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

15. PRODUCTION • COAT Publication Sub-Committee • Writer – Tribunal expert • Editor • Production schedule • Soft and hard editions • Cost-recovery strategy • Train-the-trainer workshop(s) COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

16. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COAT 1. Assessment of tribunals: • Eligible organizations • Jurisdictions and roles • Composition of membership COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004

17. 2. Professional development program • Conduct training needs assessment • Develop targeted training strategy with priorities • Providetrain-the-trainer course(s) COAT -TRIBUNALS' MODEL PRACTICE GUIDE - AIJA 2004