Official form guide
Form F8B: Unfair dismissal application (amended)
Form F8B is the Fair Work Commission’s notification that the parties to a general‑protections dismissal dispute agree to have the matter resolved by arbitration. Use it after a conference has failed and a certificate has been issued.
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Form Overview
Fair Work Commission Form F8B - Unfair dismissal application (amended)
Form F8B is the Fair Work Commission’s notification that the parties to a general‑protections dismissal dispute agree to have the matter resolved by arbitration. Use it after a conference has failed and a certificate has been issued.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Common mistake: forgetting to sign or specify the authority to sign.
- 2Missing or illegible signature
- 3Not stating the correct authority (Applicant, Employer, Representative)
- 4Submitting after the 14‑day window
- 5Omitting representative details when required
Plain English
If you and your employer have both said ‘yes’ to arbitration for a dismissal case, you need to fill out this short form. It tells the Commission you’re ready for them to step in and decide the outcome.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Lodge the form within 14 days of the date the Commission issues the certificate for arbitration.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- You are in a general‑protections dismissal dispute that has gone to a conference and remained unresolved.
- The Commission has issued a general‑protections certificate for the dispute.
- Both the applicant (or their representative) and the employer (or their representative) have agreed to arbitration.
- You need to notify the Commission of that agreement within 14 days of the certificate being issued.
- You are not also pursuing a separate general‑protections court application.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
You want to apply to a court instead of arbitration
Court route is separate from Commission arbitration
✓ Verify you are not also using Form F8B
Form for court application (not confirmed in official source)
You need to notify the Commission of a lawyer or paid‑agent after lodging this form
Used to add or change representation details after initial filing
✓ Confirm you have already lodged Form F8B
You have a general‑protections matter that has not yet reached the certificate stage
Arbitration cannot be started without a certificate
✓ Ensure a certificate has been issued before using F8B
General‑protections application form (not confirmed in official source)
Deadline or filing window
The form must be lodged no later than 14 days after the Commission issues the arbitration certificate.
Before you submit
- 1Certificate issued and reference number noted.
- 2Both applicant and employer (or their authorised representatives) have signed.
- 3Electronic signature added or typed name entered where required.
- 4Representative details filled in, including ABN if applicable.
- 5Authority to sign correctly labelled (Applicant, Representative, Employer, position title).
- 6Date entered on both signature blocks.
- 7Form saved as PDF for attachment.
- 8Email address typed correctly: [email protected].
- 9If posting, correct address for the Commission office in your state/territory is used.
- 10A copy of the completed form retained for your records.
How to file this form
- 1Gather the general‑protections certificate and any supporting documents.
- 2Complete the form, entering all required details and checking the consent boxes.
- 3Add signatures (electronic or typed) and the correct authority labels.
- 4Save the completed form as a PDF.
- 5Email the PDF to [email protected] **or** post/in‑person deliver it to the Commission office in your state/territory.
- 6Keep a dated copy of the filed form for your records.
- 7If you emailed, request a read receipt or follow up to confirm receipt.
Known limitations
- 1Only for general‑protections dismissal disputes where a certificate has been issued.
- 2Cannot be used if either party is also making a general‑protections court application.
- 3Arbitration proceeds only with the consent of both parties; lack of consent invalidates the form.
- 4The form must be lodged within 14 days of the certificate being issued.
- 5It does not cover other types of unfair‑dismissal or general‑protections matters.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
1 items
Full name (and representative, if any), postal address, email, and phone number of the person or organisation lodging the application.
Respondent
1 items
The exact legal name and ABN of the employer or other party the application is made against.
The Matter
2 items
Identify the kind of matter — for example, unfair dismissal, general protections, or an agreement application.
A clear description of what happened, relevant dates, and the outcome you are seeking.
Dates
1 items
Relevant dates such as the date of dismissal or the date the issue arose — these determine whether you are within time.
Supporting
1 items
Any documents that support your application, such as letters, contracts, or notices.
Declaration
1 items
Sign and date the form. Applications may also require a fee or an application for a fee waiver.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form F8B is the approved Fair Work Commission form for consent arbitration of a general‑protections dismissal dispute, effective from 25 September 2025 and currently in force.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Check the form is the version approved on 25 September 2025.
- Confirm a certificate has been issued for the dispute (question 1.1).
- Verify both parties have ticked ‘Yes’ to agreeing to arbitration.
- If a representative is used, ensure all representative fields (name, ABN, contact) are completed.
- Ensure the correct authority label (Applicant, Representative, Employer, etc.) is entered next to each signature.
- Confirm the form will be lodged within 14 days of the certificate date.
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm approved with effect from 25 September 2025 (page 5).
- SRCCertificate must be issued before arbitration can be consented to (page 1).
- SRCBoth parties must consent to arbitration (page 1, page 6).
- SRCLodgement methods: email to [email protected], post or in‑person (page 1).
- SRC14‑day lodgement deadline from date of certificate (page 1).
- SRCRepresentative details section and options for lawyer/paid agent (page 2, page 5).
- SRCSignature authority options for applicant, representative, employer, or position title (pages 6‑7).
- SRCRequirement to retain a copy for your records (page 7).
Common confusion points
Using Form F8B for a regular unfair‑dismissal claim instead of a general‑protections dismissal.
Submitting the form after the 14‑day deadline.
Signing the form yourself when a representative’s authority label is required.
Leaving the representative section blank when a lawyer or paid agent is involved.
Sending the form to the wrong email address or the wrong state/territory office.
Assuming consent is automatic after the conference; both parties must explicitly agree on the form.
Failing to retain a copy for personal records.
Source transparency
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