| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The O** – S** P** N** 2871 v D** Enwia | Hearing Room 5.1 | 10:15 am |
| S** Noorimohamad v E** H** Limited | Hearing Room 5.1 | 2:15 pm |
Last updated: 09 Sep 2026, 2:05 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The NCAT Appeal Panel at Parramatta hears internal appeals from decisions made across the four Divisions of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Sitting within the Parramatta registry at Level 5, 9 George Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, the Appeal Panel gives parties in Western Sydney a local venue to challenge a first-instance Tribunal decision without proceeding straight to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The registry opened on 15 February 2021 and was built with four hearing rooms fitted with high-definition video conferencing technology, five conciliation rooms, a public service counter and a waiting area, making it one of the most modern NCAT facilities in the state.
The "AP" reference in the NCAT Parramatta listing marks matters allocated to the Appeal Panel rather than to an originating Division. If you are searching the daily NCAT Parramatta Consumer and Commercial Division list for a related first-instance file, the Appeal Panel list is where the review of that earlier decision is scheduled once a Notice of Appeal has been accepted.
What the NCAT Appeal Panel Actually Does
The Appeal Panel is responsible for determining internal appeals from decisions of each of NCAT's Divisions where a right of appeal is provided under the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 or the relevant enabling legislation. It also determines designated external appeals where the Act or another statute directs those matters to the Panel. Internal appeals must be heard by the Tribunal constituted as an Appeal Panel under section 27(1) of the NCAT Act.
An important point that catches many applicants out: an internal appeal is not an opportunity to re-run the first hearing or to have the case heard afresh. The Appeal Panel generally examines whether the Tribunal that originally heard the matter made an error on a question of law. Section 32 of the NCAT Act sets out which decisions can be appealed. An appeal on a question of law can often be made as of right, meaning the permission of the Panel is not required, while an appeal that challenges the merits of a decision can only proceed if the Appeal Panel grants leave.
Which Decisions Can and Cannot Be Appealed
Not every NCAT decision carries an internal appeal right, and the rules vary by Division and matter type. As a general guide:
- Appealable to the Panel: many decisions from the Consumer and Commercial Division (with some exclusions), decisions from the Occupational Division relating to State-licensed occupations, and Registrar decisions declared to be "appealable decisions".
- Not appealable to the Panel: decisions of the Appeal Panel itself, decisions of the Tribunal in an external appeal, decisions about contempt of the Tribunal, some civil penalty decisions, and decisions made under legislation that states an internal appeal is not allowed, such as the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) and the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW).
Where no internal appeal right exists, a party may still have a right of appeal to the NSW Supreme Court, or the option of judicial review through the administrative law list of that Court. Because these pathways are technical, independent legal advice before lodging is strongly recommended.
Time Limits and How to Lodge
A Notice of Appeal must generally be lodged within 28 days of the original decision, unless the Appeal Panel grants an extension. Lodging an internal appeal does not automatically pause the decision being appealed: the original orders continue to operate and can be enforced unless the Tribunal makes a "stay" order stopping enforcement. When deciding whether to grant a stay, the Panel weighs factors such as the strength of the appellant's case, and a stay is likely to be refused where an appeal is very weak with no real prospects of success.
The core steps are straightforward on paper:
- Confirm your decision carries an internal appeal right under section 32 and read NCAT Guideline 1 on Internal Appeals.
- Complete and file the Notice of Appeal, and pay the prescribed fee.
- If enforcement is a concern, apply separately for a stay.
- Prepare written submissions, as the hearing is built around them rather than a fresh presentation of evidence.
- Attend the Appeal Panel hearing, where the appellant is usually invited to explain their case first, the respondent replies, and the appellant is given a brief right of reply.
NCAT Appeal Panel Fees
Appeal Panel matters attract a higher filing fee than most first-instance applications, reflecting the involvement of senior Members. As at 1 July 2025, a general application to be determined by the Appeal Panel carried a standard fee of $519.00, a corporation fee of $1,038.00, and a reduced or concession fee of $130.00. The concession rate is set at 25% of the full fee and applies to eligible pensioners and people receiving a grant of legal aid or assistance from a community legal centre. Fees are reviewed each financial year, so confirm the current figure before filing.
NCAT by the Numbers
The scale of NCAT's work puts the Appeal Panel's role in context. In 2023-24 the Tribunal recorded:
- 71,223 applications lodged across all Divisions, a 6.8% decrease on the previous year.
- 616 internal appeals lodged, down from 712 in 2022-23.
- 70,666 matters finalised, for an overall clearance ratio of 99.2%.
- 104,837 hearings and other listing events held across 48 locations in NSW.
- 60.3% of applications lodged online, rising to 82.5% within the Consumer and Commercial Division.
Internal appeals therefore represent well under 1% of all matters, which underlines how selective the appeal pathway is and why the "error of law" threshold matters so much. Anyone comparing options may also want to review the originating Parramatta Local Court list or the Parramatta District Court list, since the appeal route depends entirely on which body made the first decision.
Getting to NCAT Parramatta
The Parramatta registry sits opposite the Department's Parramatta Justice Precinct in the western part of the Parramatta CBD. It is roughly a 15 minute walk from Parramatta station, which is served by Sydney Trains and the Parramatta bus interchange. Several commercial parking stations operate throughout the CBD, and disabled access and toilets are available within the venue. Registry counters across NCAT operate from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, and the general enquiry line is 1300 006 228, with internal appeals reachable by selecting option 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "NCAT AP" mean on the Parramatta list?
"AP" identifies Appeal Panel matters. These are internal appeals being reviewed by the Panel, as distinct from first-instance matters listed under a Division such as CCD, OD or AEOD.
Can I appeal a decision of the Appeal Panel?
No. You cannot lodge a further internal appeal against an Appeal Panel decision with NCAT. If a right of appeal to the NSW Supreme Court exists, that appeal must be lodged with the Court instead, and legal advice is recommended first.
How long do I have to lodge an internal appeal?
A Notice of Appeal is generally due within 28 days of the original decision, unless the Appeal Panel grants an extension of time.
Does lodging an appeal stop the original order?
Not automatically. The original decision remains enforceable unless you obtain a stay from the Tribunal. Track the status of your matter against the published NCAT Parramatta Occupational Division list and related daily lists to confirm hearing dates.
