Online Lodgment Service

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Welcome to the Online Lodgment Service

Welcome to the Fair Work Commission’s Online Lodgment Service. You can use this service to lodge your initial application form and any supporting material you have available at the time of submitting your application.

If you can’t, or would prefer not to, lodge your application online, you can lodge it via email, post, fax or in person. Visit the Lodge an application page for further information about lodging this way.

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, the Commission wants to hear about your experience with our Online Lodgment Service. We invite you to provide your feedback through our Online Lodgment Service feedback form.

Before lodging your application

When you lodge an application with the Commission, you are commencing a legal process. If you haven’t already, it is important to read through the information about the Commission's processes on our website. Some of the more common applications are about:

For a comprehensive list of the different applications which can be made to the Commission, visit the Forms page.

Using the Online Lodgment Service

Email requirement

You don’t need to register or have an account to lodge your application online, but you will need to provide a valid email address. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been received.

Saving & returning to your application

There is no function to save an incomplete application to return to later. We recommend that you have all your documents in order before you start lodging your application online.

Timeout if no activity within 20 minutes

For your security, the system will log you out if there has been no activity for 20 minutes. We recommend that you have all your documents ready before you start lodging your application online.

Application fees

Some applications have an application fee. For more information about which applications have a fee, including how to apply to have the fee waived due to financial hardship, go to Fees and other costs.

If your application requires you to pay a fee, you will need to do this at the time of lodgment. You will be asked to provide payment by credit card.

If you can’t pay by credit card, or if you would prefer to pay by cash or cheque, you must lodge your application along with your fee in person or by post. Visit the Lodge an application page for further information about lodging this way.

If you are running out of time to lodge your application before the time limit expires, call us during business hours on 1300 799 675 to find out what options may be available to you, or download an application form and submit the form by email to your state or territory Commission office with as much information as you can gather.

Supported browsers

The Online Lodgment Service only supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer version 9 and later
Chrome version 27 and later
Firefox version 30 and later

If you do not have access to one of these browsers, you can submit an application by downloading the relevant form and sending it to us at one of our Commission offices.

Please note that if you are making an online payment with your application, your browser must be set to accept cookies from the Commission and SecurePay or the payment may not be able to be processed. Please check the Commission’s Privacy policy for information on the Commission’s use of cookies, and refer to SecurePay’s Privacy Policy for information on how SecurePay uses cookies.

If you are required to pay an application fee with your application and you do not wish to allow your browser to accept cookies, you can submit an application by downloading the relevant form and sending it to us at one of our Commission offices.

Submitting other documents

Submitting additional information

You cannot submit additional documentation for an existing application through the Online Lodgment Service. Please lodge this material with your state or territory Commission office by email, express post, fax or in person.

Responding to an application

You cannot respond to an application through the Online Lodgment Service. Please lodge this material with your state or territory Commission office by email, express post, fax or in person.

Begin online lodgment

We want your feedback

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, the Commission wants to hear about your experience with our Online Lodgment Service. We invite you to provide your feedback through our Online Lodgment Service feedback form.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my application has been received?

You will receive an automated email confirming that your application has been successfully lodged.

If you haven’t received an email or if you’re worried about any of the steps in the online process, you can call the Fair Work Commission on 1300 799 675 and our staff will check that your application has been received.

I'm having trouble uploading my documents on the Upload additional forms page

At this page you must first use the Browse button to find the documents you wish to upload. Then click on the Document button and then click on Upload. You will know when the file has been added when it appears under the 'File(s) added' heading. You can also click on 'remove' if you wish to delete the document.

What is the difference between ‘Unfair dismissal’ and ‘Dismissal’ in the ‘Category’ drop down box?

The Unfair dismissal category is for section 394 Unfair dismissal applications. That is, an application for unfair dismissal remedy (Form F2)

The Dismissal category is for section 773 Unlawful termination applications. That is, an application to deal with an unlawful termination dispute (Form F9).

I don’t have the details of the contact person of the respondent but the service doesn’t let me continue without entering them.

For certain application types, the Online Lodgment Service will not accept your application unless you have included all the required information.

For example, the Unfair dismissal application requires you to include a contact person for the Respondent. This information may be available on a previous payslip or correspondence received such as termination letter. Note that if you get the name of the contact person wrong on your application, this can always be changed at a later date.

If you are running out of time to lodge your application before the time limit expires, call us during business hours on 1300 799 675 to find out what options may be available to you, or download an application form and submit the form by email to your state or territory Commission office with as much information as you can gather.

Is there a way to save my application and continue it later?

No, there is no function to save an incomplete application to return to later.

We recommend that you have all your documents in order before you start lodging your application online. For your security, the system will log you out if there has been no activity for 20 minutes.

Updated time

Last updated

19 December 2019

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