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Commission - General

President Speech: Mandatory immigration detention of children in Australia: how far have we come and where to from here? (2010)

I knew Brad well and admired him a great deal. We met when he joined the Crown Solicitor’s Office and we worked closely together in that office for a number of years. He was appointed Crown Solicitor of South Australia when I left that position to practice at the private Bar. He was subsequently appointed Solicitor-General of South Australia, the office from which, I believe, he made his greatest contribution to Australian public law.

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Stand on your rights, or see them trampled (2009)

Australia is a great country to live in — for most of us most of the time. We don’t suffer the terrible poverty witnessed in some parts of the world, our judicial system works well by international standards and most of us can vote in elections by secret ballot. Most of us can live pretty safely, say what we like most of the time and, if we are so inclined, practise our faith in peace. Most of us have access to decent education and health services.

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights (2008)

Five years ago I began my term as the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, confident in the ability of the common law and a robust democracy to protect human rights. I leave convinced we need a major legal and cultural overhaul in order to deal with the human rights challenges of the 21st century.

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

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I would like to acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting, and to honour their children. I thank them for the welcome they have extended to delegates of this conference.

Category, Speech

For children and young people

You’re in the right place to find out about your rights. Let’s make sense of what rights are and how we look out for your rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Who is the National Children's Commissioner?

Meet Anne! It’s her job to make sure your rights are protected.

What are children’s rights?

Read about issues that affect your rights and how we stand up for them in Australia.

What do I do if I am worried about my rights?

Our work on issues that affect you

Hang on, I'm an adult

Legal

Law Seminar 2007: The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Legislation by Dr Sarah Pritchard

1. That Aboriginal child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory be designated as an issue of urgent national significance by both the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, and both governments immediately establish a collaborative partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding to specifically address the protection of Aboriginal children from sexual abuse. It is critical that both governments commit to genuine consultation with Aboriginal people in designing initiatives for Aboriginal communities.” (emphasis added)

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

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We are here to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Bringing them home – the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.

Category, Speech
Sex Discrimination

It's Over to You

We all know why we're here today. You're here because men aren't seeing enough of their children, that after divorce they're lone fathers if they're lucky and cheque books on legs if things turn out badly. Sadly, there are some men who just disappear as dads altogether.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Essentials for Social Justice: Protecting Indigenous children

I begin by paying my respects to the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders, to the ancestors and to those who have come before us. And thank you, Alan Madden, for your generous welcome to country for all of us.

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

“Child Migrants and Human Rights in our Time”: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2005)

I should add, at this point, that my work over the past few years and my inquiry on children in immigration detention (CIDI), in Australia, the report of which "A last resort?" was tabled in the Australian Federal parliament in May of 2004, has made me even more keenly aware of the fragility of child asylum seekers. But more on that later!

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

DDA Transport Standards: HREOC'S Role

Probably most of us here are parents, and we all have dreams for our children. One of my dreams for my 18-year-old son and his girl friend is that they will be able to participate in society in the same way as everyone else.

Category, Speech

If you feel uncomfortable, or like something is wrong, it’s really important you get help. Something not feeling right could mean that a person or an organisation isn’t playing by the rules when it comes to your rights. Let’s step through who you can turn to when children’s rights aren’t being respected. 

I need help right now

If you feel unsafe or like something bad is happening to you right now, there are people who can help you straight away.

  • Call 000 to get help from the police, an ambulance or fire brigade.
  • Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or use their webchat to speak to someone who will listen to your worries, and give you options for support.
  • Tell an adult you can trust.
A group of young people stand together outdoors. A smiling girl with curly hair, a red headband, and a denim jacket is in focus, while others, including a girl in brown, are slightly blurred in the foreground and background.

Know your rights

The first step in figuring out whether your rights have been disrespected is to know what they are in the first place. As a child in Australia, you have lots of rights. Like:

  • the right to be treated fairly
  • the right to have a say about decisions affecting you
  • the right to live and grow up healthy
  • the right to be safe no matter where you are
  • the right to get an education
  • the right to play and have fun!

If you want to find out more about your rights, we’ve got a page just for that.

Reach out to an adult you can trust

A good place to start if you feel like something is wrong is to speak to an adult you can trust - someone who will listen, believe and help you.

The first person you talk to may not be the right person so it’s okay to keep telling other safe people in your life until you have been heard, believed, and someone helps you.

Get help from a service you can trust

There are places in the community you can get help from if you don’t feel comfortable speaking to an adult you know. The best place to turn to depends on if:

  • you’re worried about yourself or another young person you know.
  • or you’re worried about all children in Australia.
I’m worried about myself or another child I know

You can chat to these services for free, and what you say is private. You don’t even have to tell them your name if you don’t want to. 

You can talk to them about anything—no matter how big or small it seems. 

Make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission

You can make a complaint to us for different reasons. For example, if you think: 

  • you have been treated unfairly because of your age, race, disability or sex. 
  • other rights, like your right to be heard or be safe, have been ignored.  

We can investigate and try to help solve it. Making a complaint is free and open to anyone anywhere in Australia. Find out more about how to make a complaint.

Get involved

There are lots of ways you can stand up for children's rights: 

  • learn about human rights on this website or do an online course.
  • join a group like a young people's advisory group.
  • talk about human rights at your school.

Read more about ways to get involved. 

You can also sign up to get our monthly email to get the latest news. 

Rights and Freedoms

Police Checks - A Human Rights perspective

Acknowledgments I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I'd also like to thank the Aged and Community Services Association for inviting me to speak about police checks today. Introduction I suspect the average person in the street associates police checks with high-security jobs, such as airport security, or, on the other hand, with jobs working closely with children. However, police checks are required for an increasing number and variety of occupations and industries in Australia, including those providing aged and community services.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

An Indigenous home for Indigenous children

To all of you who work with and for Indigenous children and families - my deepest congratulations. Many of you have spent years decrying the treatment of Indigenous children.You have written and spoken, cajoled and attempted to convince and then lobbied some more - just trying to get the people of this country to open their eyes. Your energy has been boundless. Your patience infinite.

Category, Speech

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