You have a tribunal hearing in three weeks. Emails, invoices, photos, text messages, contracts, and receipts are scattered across your phone, laptop, and filing cabinet. The tribunal rules say you must serve your evidence bundle on the other party and lodge it with the tribunal by a certain date.
Turn up with a shoebox full of unsorted papers and the member will struggle to follow your case. Turn up with an indexed, paginated, logically arranged bundle and you look credible.
This guide shows you how to organise your evidence bundle for a small claims tribunal hearing in any Australian state or territory.
What is an evidence bundle
An evidence bundle is a single, paginated collection of all the documents you intend to rely on at the hearing:
- Contracts, quotes, invoices, receipts
- Emails, text messages, social media screenshots
- Photos of damage, defects, or relevant conditions
- Statutory notices, letters of demand, responses
- Bank statements, payment records
- Expert reports, quotes for repair or replacement
The bundle is served on the other party (typically 7-14 days before the hearing) and lodged with the tribunal so the member has it in advance.
Why proper organisation matters
Tribunal members hear dozens of cases. They do not have time to hunt through loose pages. A well-organised bundle:
- Makes your case easier to follow — the member can locate the document you are referring to instantly
- Shows you are serious — it signals proper preparation
- Prevents adjournments — if the other party or the member cannot make sense of your documents, the hearing may be postponed
- Reduces stress — you know exactly where everything is when you need to refer to it
Ready to put it in writing?
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1. Who is the other party?
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3. Do you have it in writing?
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Step 1: Gather every relevant document
Collect everything before you organise anything:
- Email inbox and sent folder
- Text messages, WhatsApp, Messenger, social media DMs
- Phone photo gallery
- Paper files, receipts, invoices
- Bank statements and payment records
- Any correspondence from the other party or their lawyer
Print or save digital documents as PDFs. For text messages or social media, take clear screenshots showing the date, time, sender, and full conversation thread. For photos, make sure they are high resolution and show what you say they show.
Step 2: Sort chronologically within categories
Most tribunals prefer chronological order within logical categories. A typical structure:
- Application and pleadings — your application, the other party’s response, any amended applications
- Contracts and agreements — the written contract, quote, invoice, terms and conditions
- Correspondence before the dispute — emails, messages, letters leading up to the problem
- Evidence of the problem — photos of defects, damage, non-delivery; bank statements showing non-payment
- Correspondence during the dispute — your complaint, their response, any attempts to resolve
- Formal notices — letter of demand, breach notice, any statutory notices
- Evidence of loss — repair quotes, replacement invoices, lost income records
- Other supporting documents — expert reports, witness statements, statutory declarations
Within each category, arrange documents by date (oldest first). This lets the member follow the story as it unfolded.
Step 3: Paginate the entire bundle
Every page in the bundle must have a unique page number in the bottom right corner. Start at page 1 and number consecutively through to the end.
Use a word processor or PDF editor to add page numbers. If a document is double-sided, number both sides separately (the back of page 5 becomes page 6).
Page numbers let you and the member refer to specific documents quickly: “If you turn to page 23, you will see the invoice dated 15 March 2024.”
Step 4: Create a detailed index
The index sits at the front of the bundle. It lists every document with a brief description, the date, and the page number(s):
| Document | Date | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Application to tribunal | 10/01/2024 | 1-4 |
| Respondent’s response | 25/01/2024 | 5-7 |
| Service agreement | 05/11/2023 | 8-10 |
| Invoice #1234 | 20/12/2023 | 11 |
| Email from applicant to respondent | 22/12/2023 | 12 |
| Email from respondent to applicant | 23/12/2023 | 13 |
| Photos of defective work | 28/12/2023 | 14-17 |
| Letter of demand | 05/01/2024 | 18-19 |
| Repair quote from licensed contractor | 08/01/2024 | 20 |
The index must match the page numbers exactly. If you add or remove a document, update the index.
Step 5: Use dividers or tabs
If your bundle is thick, use dividers to separate the main categories:
- Section 1: Application and pleadings
- Section 2: Contracts
- Section 3: Correspondence
- Section 4: Evidence of loss
This makes it easier for everyone to navigate the bundle during the hearing.
Step 6: Bind the bundle securely
Do not use staples or loose plastic sleeves. The bundle must stay together but allow pages to be turned easily:
- Ring binder — simple, cheap, lets you add or remove pages if needed
- Comb binding or spiral binding — available at print shops, looks professional
- Treasury tags through punched holes — acceptable but less neat
If the bundle is over 50 pages, consider printing double-sided to reduce bulk. Make sure the page numbers remain visible.
Step 7: Prepare the required number of copies
Check the tribunal’s rules for how many copies you need. Typically:
- One for yourself
- One for the other party (served in advance)
- One for the tribunal (lodged in advance or brought to the hearing)
Some tribunals accept electronic bundles via email or online portal. If so, save the entire bundle as a single PDF with the index as the first page and page numbers embedded.
Step 8: Serve and lodge on time
Most tribunals require you to serve your evidence bundle on the other party at least 7 days before the hearing. Serve by:
- Registered post
- Email (if the other party has agreed or the tribunal allows it)
- Personal delivery with a signed receipt
Lodge your copy with the tribunal by the deadline stated in the directions. If you miss the deadline, the tribunal may refuse to admit your evidence or adjourn the hearing at your cost.
Common mistakes to avoid
No page numbers — the member cannot refer to specific documents and you waste time flipping through loose pages.
No index — the bundle is a mystery until someone reads the whole thing.
Documents out of order — the chronology is broken and the story makes no sense.
Illegible copies — faded faxes, blurry photos, tiny font. If the member cannot read it, it is useless.
Including irrelevant material — 50 pages of unrelated emails that prove nothing.
Serving late — the other party complains, the tribunal adjourns, you pay their costs.
What to do at the hearing
Bring your copy of the bundle and refer to page numbers when giving evidence or questioning witnesses:
“If you turn to page 15, you will see the email I sent on 22 December 2023 asking the respondent to fix the defect.”
Do not read the entire document aloud unless the member asks you to. Just identify it by page number and date, and explain what it shows.
If the other party did not bring their copy, the member may share theirs or ask you to share yours. Bring a spare.
After the hearing
Keep your evidence bundle. If the other party appeals or fails to comply with the tribunal’s order, you will need it again. Store it somewhere safe for at least 12 months after the matter is finalised.
If you win and the other party does not pay, you may need to enforce the order. Your evidence bundle becomes part of the enforcement file.
How Claim Done helps with tribunal hearing preparation
If you are preparing your tribunal application documents, Claim Done drafts your application (for a New South Wales debt, a Local Court statement of claim) and a witness statement based on the evidence you describe. For defences, our tribunal response service drafts a response summary, a defence position statement, a chronology and an evidence list.
Need a witness statement formatted and paginated for inclusion in your bundle? Our witness statement service turns your evidence into a compliant statutory declaration or affidavit.
All documents are delivered as print-ready PDFs with consistent formatting, making it easier to compile your final bundle. Fixed fee, fast turnaround, Australia-wide.
If you need custom document preparation or formatting assistance for a complex hearing bundle, contact our team for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages can my evidence bundle be?
Most tribunals do not set a strict page limit, but keep it under 100 pages if possible. Include only documents that directly support your case. If you have hundreds of pages of marginally relevant material, the member will lose patience.
Can I add documents to my bundle after I have served it?
Generally no, unless the tribunal gives you leave to do so. If you discover new evidence after serving your bundle, apply to the tribunal for permission to file supplementary documents. You must serve the new documents on the other party and explain why they were not included originally.
Do I need to include the other party's documents in my bundle?
Only if you intend to rely on them. If the other party sent you an email or letter that supports your case, include it. If their documents are irrelevant or only support their case, leave them out — they will include them in their own bundle.
What if I only have electronic evidence like text messages or emails?
Print them or save them as PDFs. For text messages, take screenshots showing the sender, date, time, and full conversation. For emails, print the entire email thread including headers. Make sure the printout is clear and legible.
Can I submit my evidence bundle electronically?
It depends on the tribunal. Some accept PDF bundles via email or online portal. Check the tribunal’s practice directions or call the registry to confirm. If electronic lodgment is allowed, save your entire bundle as a single PDF with the index as the first page and page numbers embedded.
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