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FWCFair Work Commission · 2026

the Applicant v The Trustee For The Bedshed Trust

Citation: [2026] FWC 2373

At a glance

Employees affected
1

What happened

the Applicant lodged an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission on December 31, 2025. He stated he began working for The Trustee For The Bedshed Trust on November 25, 2025 and was dismissed on December 31, 2025. This meant his employment period was less than six months, below the minimum required to file an unfair dismissal claim. the Applicant also did not pay the application fee or request a waiver.

What was decided

The Fair Work Commission Deputy President dismissed the Applicant’s unfair dismissal application. The Commission found he was ineligible due to his short period of employment and failure to pay the required fee. Multiple attempts were made to contact the Applicant regarding these issues, but he did not respond. The Commission can dismiss applications early if there's no reasonable prospect of success.

What it means for employers

Employers should be aware that employees must meet minimum employment periods before lodging an unfair dismissal claim. This period is six months for most employers and 12 months for small businesses. Ensure records accurately reflect start and end dates of employment to verify eligibility.

What it means for employees

Employees need to ensure they have completed the required minimum employment period (usually six months) before filing an unfair dismissal application. They also must pay the fee or apply for a waiver. The Fair Work Commission will contact applicants about missing information, so it’s important to respond promptly.

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Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:

https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/pdf/2026fwc2373.pdf

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This summary was drafted from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →

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