The Federal Court of Australia, created by the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, began to exercise its jurisdiction on 1 February 1977. It assumed jurisdiction formerly exercised in part by the High Court of Australia and the whole of the jurisdiction of the Australian Industrial Court and of the Federal Court of Bankruptcy.

The Court is a superior court of record and a court of law and equity. It sits in all capital cities in Australia and elsewhere in Australia from time to time.

The Federal Court of Australia Act provides that the Court consists of a Chief Justice and other judges as appointed. The Chief Justice is the senior judge of the Court and is
responsible for ensuring the orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of the Court.

The Court's original jurisdiction is conferred by over 150 statutes of the Australian Parliament.

The Court has a substantial and diverse appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from decisions of single judges of the Court, and from the Federal Magistrates Court in non-family law matters. The Court also exercises general appellate jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters on appeal from the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island.

Most District Registries of the Court are also registries for the following federal tribunals: the Australian Competition Tribunal, the Copyright Tribunal of Australia and the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. The registries of the Court are also registries for the Industrial Relations Court of Australia until the work of that Court is completed, and for the Federal Magistrates Court in relation to non- family law matters.

The Court issues a number of corporate publications in accordance with Commonwealth legislation, in compliance with Senate Orders and other government requirements.

The Court has a number of mechanisms to liaise and consult with the members of the legal profession and others about its work. These include ad hoc meetings regarding changes in jurisdiction and procedure.