News
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Urgent call for seriously ill Nauru children to be transferred
The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling on the Federal Government to urgently transfer any seriously unwell asylum seeker children – and their families – from Nauru to Australia. The Commission notes several recent cases where the Federal Court of Australia has consistently found the...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Rural and Remote Mental Health Conference 2017
A speech by June Oscar about her work at the Australian Human Rights Commission, the importance of language and culture to our social and emotional well-being, and the role of our women in leading us to a better future.
Race Discrimination
The AHRC and the Racial Discrimination Act: setting the record straight
Federal racial hatred legislation and the complaints-handling processes of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are currently the subjects of an inquiry by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. The Committee’s ‘Freedom of speech in Australia’ inquiry, due to report by 28...
Rights and Freedoms
Speak up out of respect for rights and culture
To advance human rights we need to promote a culture of respect for everyone exercising their choice and freedoms. On a day-to-day basis, human rights probably appear abstract for most Australians. The term often gets raised in discussion about how we are treating asylum seekers, or when we discuss...
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.
Disability Rights
World Mental Health Day Address
Thank you for the opportunity to speak here today, World Mental Health Day. I am very pleased that World Mental Health Day this year is dedicated to the theme Human Rights and Mental Health. This theme recognises that mental health issues are human rights issues - a view argued strongly and consistently by our Human Rights Commission for many years.
Disability Rights
3rd National Conference on Human Rights and Mental Health
I would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal People , the traditional owners of the land on which we stand, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.
Rights and Freedoms
"Long-term detention and mental health": Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2003)
Speech given by Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner at the 2nd Public Health Association of Australia Incarceration Conference. Wednesday 2 April 2003 at the Mercure Hotel Brisbane
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Indigenous Forum, National Mental Health Services Conference (2010)
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land where we meet today, and pay my respects to their elders both past and present.
Rights and Freedoms
Launch Mental Health Brochures & Fact Sheets
Diversity in Health is a conference about health. Multicultural Mental Health Australia is a multicultural health service. Vision Australia deals with issues and needs of people with print disability. What have these services and issues got to do with human rights, and why am I launching them? I'd like to reflect on these questions, and strongly argue that there is a fundamental connection between health and human rights.
Disability Rights
MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL: WHAT'S THE VISION?
Over the last four years the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) has played a key role in raising community awareness about the human rights Australians with a mental illness. The Commission, through its public inquiry process, brought into national focus how, amongst other things, people affected by mental illness frequently faced discrimination and stigmatisation based on ignorance, fear and inaccurate stereotypes.
Disability Rights
The Human Rights of Mentally Ill People:the HREOC inquiry and after
I congratulate the Probation and Parole Officers' Association for their initiative in organizing this conference on Mental Health, Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Rights and Freedoms
"Long-term detention and mental health": Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2002)
Professors Harry Minas and Byron Good - Conference Convenors and Co-directors, distinguished guests from both Australia and overseas, ladies and gentlemen, all.
Pagination
Media centre
Visit our media centre for up to date contact details for all media enquiries.