Nicholette Fanourakis v MDCA (Mobile Dental Clinic Australia)

[2022] FWC 1153

[2022] FWC 1153

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394—Unfair dismissal

Nicholette Fanourakis
v

MDCA (Mobile Dental Clinic Australia)

(U2022/3839)

COMMISSIONER BISSETT MELBOURNE, 13 MAY 2022

Application for relief from unfair dismissal – minimum employment period – dismissal under s.587 at the Commission’s initiative.

1. On 31 March 2022 Ms Nicholette Fanourakis made an application to the Fair Work Commission for a remedy for unfair dismissal pursuant to s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

1. Ms Fanourakis advised in the Form F2 Unfair Dismissal Application (Form F2) that she commenced employment with MDCA (Mobile Dental Clinic Australia) in November 2021 and that her dismissal took effect on 29 March 2022.

1. On 4 April 2022 the Commission attempted to contact Ms Fanourakis on her nominated telephone number. A voicemail message was left requesting that Ms Fanourakis contact the Commission and confirm her employment period.

1. Later that day the Commission emailed correspondence to Ms Fanourakis’s nominated email address advising her that on the basis of the information provided in the Form F2 she had not served the minimum employment period. The correspondence directed Ms Fanourakis to file any documents/evidence to support her claim that she had served the required minimum employment period. That correspondence also warned that if Ms Fanourakis did not contact the Commission within 14 days, the application may be dismissed without further notice.

1. As the required documentation was not received, on 5 May 2022 the Commission attempted to contact Ms Fanourakis by telephone, however she could not be reached. A voicemail message was left requesting that Ms Fanourakis contact the Commission and confirm her employment period, or the application would be referred to a Member and may be dismissed. The voicemail also contained the relevant matter number and helpline number.

1. To date Ms Fanourakis has not replied to the Commission’s correspondence.

1. Section 382 of the FW Act provides that a person is protected from unfair dismissal if they have completed a period of employment of at least the minimum employment period.

1. Section 383 of the FW Act sets out the minimum employment period as follows:

383 Meaning of minimum employment period

The minimum employment period is:

(a) if the employer is not a small business employer—6 months ending at the earlier of the following times:

(i) the time when the person is given notice of the dismissal;

(ii) immediately before the dismissal; or

(b) if the employer is a small business employer—one year ending at that time.

1. Section 587(1) of the FW Act provides that:

587 Dismissing applications

(1)Without limiting when the FWC may dismiss an application, the FWC may dismiss an application if:

(a) the application is not made in accordance with this Act; or

(b) the application is frivolous or vexatious; or

(c) the application has no reasonable prospect of success.

1. Having regard to the circumstances of this matter I am satisfied that as Ms Fanourakis has not completed the required minimum employment period under the FW Act, her application has no reasonable prospect of success. As such, the application is dismissed under s.587(1)(c) of the FW Act. An order[1] to this effect will be issued with this decision.

COMMISSIONER

[1] PR741578.

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