MyFWC expansion: what ECEC employers need to know before October

The Fair Work Commission expects to expand its dismissal case portal from mid-October 2026. For early childhood providers, individual account access and arrangements for teams using shared HR inboxes are key preparation points.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) employers involved in dismissal proceedings will soon be able to manage their cases online from application through to finalisation, as the Fair Work Commission expands its MyFWC portal.

In an announcement published on 29 September, the Commission said it expects the expanded portal to become available from mid-October 2026. MyFWC currently allows people to apply online for unfair dismissal and general protection dismissal cases. The changes will extend that access to documents, directions, proceedings and decisions throughout a case. 

For approved providers, service owners and HR teams, the announcement is a prompt to review who handles dismissal matters and how those people will access case information. The changes concern the administration of proceedings; the announcement does not introduce new dismissal rights or grounds.

Once the expanded portal becomes available, all new dismissal cases will be managed through MyFWC.

Existing dismissal cases will also move to the portal unless they have already been allocated to a Commission Member. The Commission says it will tell affected parties when they need to access their case information differently. The expansion covers dismissal cases only, with other case types to be added in future.

That distinction matters for providers managing an existing matter. A case already underway will not necessarily continue through the same communication arrangements simply because it began before the portal expansion.

The MyFWC help centre explains how the transition will affect parties and representatives, including how to arrange access for people engaged after a case has been lodged.

The expanded portal will allow users to view case details and the contact details of parties and representatives, access and upload documents, and view directions, decisions and orders issued by Commission Members.

Users will also be able to view and access proceedings using a computer, tablet or mobile device. According to the Commission, most interactions will occur through MyFWC, with people connected to a case receiving notifications when documents are uploaded, directions are issued or a conciliation, conference or hearing is scheduled. 

For an ECEC organisation, this creates a practical question about responsibility: who will receive those notifications, review the material and coordinate a response? Where a provider works with an external representative, clear arrangements between the representative and the internal team can help keep case information accessible to the people who need it.

One important detail is that a shared mailbox cannot hold a MyFWC account because of the portal’s security requirements.

Each person who requires access will need an individual account and must be added to the case file. Accounts require a personal or work email address, a strong password and multi-factor authentication. The Commission identifies a mobile phone, authenticator app, biometrics or security key as options for setting up authentication. 

This is relevant to providers that currently manage employment correspondence through a central HR or administration inbox. Access will need to be arranged for the individuals handling the matter, rather than relying on the shared email address.

The Commission recommends that organisations using shared mailboxes create individual accounts before the expansion, contact it to connect open dismissal cases to those accounts, and provide the names and email addresses of everyone needing access when applying or responding. Representatives will also use individual portal access. 

Providers can use the period before the expected launch to identify the staff and representatives who may need access, establish accounts and become familiar with the portal.

It is also a useful time to consider continuity. If the usual HR contact is on leave or changes roles, another person may need access to case material. The Commission says additional people can be added on request, including representatives appointed after lodgement. 

The help centre brings together preparation advice, a fact sheet, an infographic and a video explaining the changes. It also provides troubleshooting information for users encountering difficulties.

For ECEC employers, the immediate task is to make sure the people responsible for a dismissal matter can access its records and notifications. With the launch expected from mid-October, the Commission’s resources give providers a starting point for preparing those arrangements now.