It might vary around Australia but in my personal experience with VCAT:
1. I’ve been awarded my application fee when I have won my case against an Owners Corporation.
2. OCs that I chair have been awarded both their application fee and their representation costs when they have won their case.
OCs, being an entity, need representation at VCAT. It can seen in VCAT published cases that most OCs choose to get professional representation.
Awarding application and representation costs seems to be up to VCAT’s discretion.