Your QCAT hearing date is fixed. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal is designed to be approachable — most minor civil disputes are heard without lawyers — but “approachable” is not “informal”. The member will read whatever you put in front of them; what you put in front of them is what they will decide on.
What the QCAT member actually reads
QCAT operates under the QCAT Act 2009 and the QCAT Rules 2009. For a minor civil dispute, the member will have your application or response, any directions issued, and the bundle of evidence each party hands up at the hearing (or files in advance if directions require it). They will not have your text messages on a phone screen, your photos in a Google Drive folder, or your contract emailed to them five minutes before the hearing — those need to be physical pages, indexed and paginated.
Common pitfalls in the last two weeks
Three traps catch most self-represented parties. Bringing evidence in original form only — the member needs a copy, the other side needs a copy, and you need a copy. That is three identical bundles. Unindexed evidence — handing the member a folder of unsorted papers is a near-guaranteed loss; the member’s job is not to organise your case. New evidence on the day — QCAT can refuse to admit evidence the other side has not seen, especially documents that should have been produced earlier.
What a Hearing Bundle does
A Hearing Bundle is the single document that wins or loses your hearing. It contains: a cover sheet with the QCAT file number and parties; an index listing every tab; numbered tabs for each piece of evidence (chronological is usually best); page numbers throughout; and a short chronology at the front. The member can navigate it in seconds. The other side cannot ambush you because they have an identical copy.
What Claim Done delivers
For a flat $79, Claim Done drafts your Hearing Bundle as a QCAT-ready PDF — chronological index, paginated tabs, your written submissions inserted in the right place, and three print-ready copies (one for the member, one for the other side, one for you). About 20 minutes in the wizard, no solicitor appointment, ready to print and walk into the hearing room with confidence.
What happens after the hearing
QCAT usually delivers a decision on the day for minor civil disputes, although complex matters can be reserved. If a money order is made in your favour, enforcement runs through the Queensland Magistrates Court if the respondent does not pay voluntarily.