What to Bring to Your VCAT Hearing: Evidence Checklist for Victoria

VCAT does not care about your story. It cares about your evidence.

For the forms, fees and each step, see our guide to making an VCAT application.

You can have the strongest case in Victoria, but if you turn up without the right documents, photos, or records, you will lose. VCAT members decide cases on evidence — not emotion, not fairness, not who sounds more convincing.

This checklist shows what VCAT actually wants to see, organised by the most common dispute types.

Universal documents for every VCAT hearing

No matter what your dispute is about, bring these:

• VCAT application form — your original filed application and any amendments
• Proof of service — evidence you properly served the other party (affidavit, Australia Post tracking, email confirmation)
• All correspondence — emails, letters, text messages, WhatsApp threads between you and the other party
• Timeline document — a single-page chronology of key dates and events
• Witness statements — signed statements from anyone who saw what happened
• Photo ID — driver’s licence or passport for yourself and any witnesses
• Three copies of everything — one for you, one for the other party, one for the member

VCAT runs on paper. Even if you filed online, bring hard copies.

Residential tenancy disputes

If your VCAT hearing is about a rental bond, repairs, eviction, or rent arrears, bring:

Tenancy agreement The signed lease. If there is no written lease, bring evidence of the verbal agreement (text messages confirming rent amount, move-in date, property address).

Bond lodgement receipt The RTBA receipt showing the bond was paid and lodged. If the landlord never lodged it, bring bank statements showing you paid it.

Condition reports Entry and exit reports. If the landlord did not provide them, bring photos from move-in day and move-out day.

Photos and videos Dated images showing damage, uncleaned areas, repairs needed, pest infestations, mould, or anything else in dispute. Take photos on your phone so the date stamp is embedded.

Repair requests Every email, text, or letter you sent the landlord asking for repairs. Include their responses or lack of response.

Quotes and invoices If you paid for repairs yourself, bring quotes and receipts. If you are claiming the landlord should have paid, bring quotes showing the reasonable cost.

Rent payment records Bank statements or receipts proving you paid rent on time, or showing arrears if that is the dispute.

Notice to vacate The formal notice the landlord gave you, or the notice you gave them. VCAT checks whether notice periods were followed correctly.

Consumer and trader disputes

For faulty goods, defective services, refunds, or Australian Consumer Law claims:

Proof of purchase Receipt, invoice, bank statement, or email confirmation showing what you paid and when.

The contract or quote Any written agreement, quote, or terms and conditions. If it was verbal, bring evidence of what was agreed (text messages, emails, notes from phone calls).

Photos of the defect Clear images showing what is wrong with the product or service. Take multiple angles.

Expert reports If you had the item inspected or repaired by someone else, bring their written report or invoice explaining the defect.

Correspondence with the seller Every email, message, or letter where you complained and asked for a refund or repair. Include their refusals.

Manufacturer warranty or guarantee If applicable. Consumer guarantees apply even without a written warranty, but bring it if you have one.

Comparable quotes If you are claiming the cost to fix or replace, bring quotes from other suppliers showing the reasonable market price.

Building and construction disputes

For defective building work, incomplete jobs, or payment disputes between owners and builders:

Building contract The signed contract, including scope of work, price, and payment schedule. If there was no written contract, bring quotes, emails, and text messages that show what was agreed.

Plans and specifications Any architectural plans, engineer’s drawings, or specifications the builder was supposed to follow.

Photos of the defects Dated images showing cracks, leaks, unfinished work, incorrect materials, or anything not built to standard. Take wide shots and close-ups.

Expert reports A building inspector’s report, engineer’s assessment, or quantity surveyor’s report explaining what is defective and the cost to rectify. VCAT typically gives significant weight to independent expert evidence.

Invoices and payment records Proof of what you paid the builder, and when. If the builder is claiming unpaid invoices, bring evidence you paid or why you withheld payment.

Variation orders Any written variations to the original contract. Verbal variations are hard to prove — bring text messages or emails if that is all you have.

Compliance certificates Building permits, occupancy certificates, or compliance documents if the dispute involves whether the work meets Victorian building standards.

Debt and money disputes

For unpaid invoices, loans, or money owed:

The debt agreement Loan agreement, invoice, contract, or any document showing the other party agreed to pay you.

Proof the debt is due Evidence the payment date has passed. If it was “pay on completion,” bring evidence the work was completed or goods delivered.

Demand letters Any letters of demand or final demands you sent. VCAT wants to see you tried to resolve this before filing.

Payment records Bank statements showing partial payments made, or lack of payment. If the other party claims they paid, you need records showing they did not.

Acknowledgment of debt Any email, text, or signed document where the other party admitted they owe the money.

How to organise your evidence

VCAT members see dozens of cases. Make their job easy:

1. Number every page — top right corner
2. Use dividers or tabs — separate your evidence into logical sections
3. Create an index — a single-page list of what is in your bundle and where
4. Highlight key sections — use a highlighter on the important sentences in contracts, emails, or reports
5. Bring a USB as backup — if you have video evidence or large photo files, bring them on a USB drive (but also print key stills)

Do not staple documents together. Use folders or binder clips so VCAT members can remove and photocopy pages.

What not to bring

Irrelevant documents If it does not prove your case, leave it at home. VCAT is not interested in your entire email history — only the relevant exchanges.

Hearsay “My friend told me the landlord did this” is not evidence. Bring your friend as a witness or get a signed statement.

Emotional appeals Letters about how stressed you are, how unfair the situation is, or how much you need the money. VCAT decides on law and evidence, not sympathy.

Unsworn statements If you want someone’s statement admitted, it needs to be signed and dated. Unsigned notes are worthless.

How Claim Done prepares your VCAT evidence

Claim Done’s Hearing Bundle Upgrade drafts five separate A4 PDFs from your answers:

• Chronology of events formatted for VCAT
• A statement of the issues in dispute
• An evidence index (a list of your documents to put your own copies in order)
• A position statement and draft orders

You answer the questions and Claim Done drafts the documents. You still number, copy and file your own evidence bundle.

Final checklist before you leave for VCAT

• [ ] Three copies of your entire evidence bundle
• [ ] Original documents (if VCAT requested them)
• [ ] Witness statements signed and dated
• [ ] Timeline or chronology on a single page
• [ ] Photo ID for yourself and witnesses
• [ ] Pen and notebook
• [ ] Contact details for the other party (in case of settlement on the day)
• [ ] Proof you served your evidence on the other party by the deadline in your VCAT notice or orders (for in-person goods and services hearings VCAT says at least 14 days before the hearing)

VCAT hearings are won in the preparation. Turn up with organised, relevant, and properly indexed evidence, and you give yourself the best chance of success.

Get the documents that go with your evidence bundle drafted with Claim Done’s Hearing Bundle Upgrade: a chronology, a statement of issues, an evidence index, a position statement and draft orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I email my evidence to VCAT on the day of the hearing?

No. You must serve your evidence on the other party by the deadline in your VCAT notice or orders (for in-person goods and services hearings VCAT says at least 14 days before the hearing), and bring hard copies to the hearing. VCAT members typically do not accept evidence by email on the day unless there are exceptional circumstances and both parties consent.

What if I do not have a written contract?

Bring any evidence that shows the agreement — text messages, emails, quotes, invoices, or even handwritten notes. Verbal contracts are enforceable, but you need to prove what was agreed. Contemporaneous messages are the strongest evidence.

Do I need a lawyer to organise my VCAT evidence?

No. VCAT is designed for self-represented parties. Most people prepare their own evidence bundles. Claim Done’s Hearing Bundle Upgrade drafts the supporting hearing documents (chronology, issues, evidence index, position statement and draft orders) without legal fees.

How many copies of my evidence should I bring?

Three — one for you, one for the other party, and one for the VCAT member. If there are multiple respondents, bring additional copies. Always bring one extra set as backup.

Can I bring witnesses to a VCAT hearing?

Yes. Witnesses can give oral evidence or provide signed witness statements. If they are attending in person, bring photo ID for them. If they cannot attend, a signed and dated witness statement is the next best option.