The current role of the Tribunal is to be the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink about social security, family assistance, education or training and parental leave payments. The Tribunal is also the first level of external review of most decisions made by the Child Support Agency.The SSAT’s statutory objective is to provide a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick (see http://www.ssat.gov.au/).

Since leaving the Tribunal, Dr Freckelton has been briefed on a number of occasions in social security matters before the Tribunal, the AAT and in the Federal Court.