Appealing a Centrelink decision first involves a person requesting an internal review of the disputed decision i.e. a review that is undertaken within Centrelink by Centrelink.
If a person is not satisfied with the outcome of that review, they can seek external review, that is, a review by an external body. For Centrelink disputes that body is the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (“AAT”).
A person cannot seek external review of a decision without first going through the internal review process.