Fair Work Commission

How the Commission can help you

The Fair Work Commission (Commission) is an independent and impartial organisation. The Commission may be able to help you by showing you:

• how to make an application
• how to respond to an application that is made against you
• how to fill out forms
• how to find useful documents such as legislation and decisions
• how to prepare for a conciliation, conference or hearing

We remain impartial and cannot give you legal advice regarding your case or otherwise.

It is not neccessary for a party to be represented by a lawyer or paid agent when appearing before the Commission, and many parties choose to represent themselves.

There are community legal centres in each state and territory. You can find your nearest community legal centre on the National Association of Community Legal Centres website. 

Workplace Advice Service

The Workplace Advice Service provides access to free legal assistance to eligible people and some small business employers who need advice about general protections and other employment-related matters.

The Service is currently available in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

Further general protections information

For eligibility information regarding general protections, refer to the General protections dismissal quiz.

You can also refer to the full set of general protections guides on the Commission’s website:

• Guide 1 – General protections overview
• Guide 2 – Making a general protections application
• Guide 3 – Responding to a general protections application
• Guide 4 – The conference process
• Guide 5 – The consent arbitration process
• Guide 6 – General protections applications not resolved at the Commission
• Guide 7 – Frequently asked questions
• Guide 8 – Glossary of common terms.

The General Protections Benchbook can also help parties lodging or responding to general protections applications.

If you need further information or help, please refer to the Enquiries page.