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1 October 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-15
The complainant was employed as a chef at the respondent restaurant. She alleged that her acting supervisor sexually harassed her by touching her on the back and shoulders, asking her on dates, telling her ‘you need to build some ass’ and telling her that she looked like a MILF when she wore dark lipstick. The complainant alleged that, after she told management about the conduct and her… -
Rights and Freedoms
5 May 2019Speech40+ years of conciliation
The Australian Human Rights Commission and Conciliation—a 40+ year success story, but … National Mediation Conference, Canberra Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM [Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Abstract A key responsibility of the Australian Human Rights Commission is to handle complaints of breaches of human rights. This is a role that the Commission in its various iterations… -
Complaint Information Service11 February 2020Webpage
Make an enquiry
The Commission's Information Services The Commission has two information services that you can contact for information about the Commission's complaint handling function. They are: The Respect@Work Information Service The National Information Service Currently, our Information Service phone lines are open Monday - Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM Sydney time. Enquiries can be… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-08-11
The complainant applied for a coordinator position with the respondent retirement village. She alleged the recruitment officer asked her if she had children and commented that a staff member with children sometimes took time off due to the needs of the children. On being advised of the complaint, the retirement village indicated a willingness to try to resolve the complaint by conciliation… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-04-08
The complainant has a disability that affects his speech and was a client of the respondent government agency. He alleged his case worker kept asking him to repeat himself because she could not understand him and this caused his impairment to become more pronounced. On being notified of the complaint, the agency indicated a willingness to participate in conciliation to try to resolve the… -
2 July 2021Conciliation register
2020-06-05
The complainant is a transgender woman. She alleged that a staff member of the respondent supermarket told her she was not a woman and laughed at her for wearing a dress. On being advised of the complaint, the supermarket indicated a willingness to try to resolve the complaint by conciliation. The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the supermarket apologise to the complainant for… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-04-11
The complainant has post-traumatic stress disorder and has an assistance dog. She booked an overnight stay at the respondent caravan park. She alleged that the caravan park told her only guide dogs were allowed at the park, declined to look at her dog’s identification and advised her to find alternative accommodation. On being notified of the complaint, the caravan park indicated a… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-04-05
The complainant has paraplegia and sought to obtain a motorcycle licence. The complainant is unable to ride a two-wheeled motorcycle because of his disability and instead sought to ride a three-wheeled motorcycle modified to allow him to ride it. He alleged the respondent government agency informed him there was no valid path available for doing a test on a three wheeled motorcycle and he… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-08-10
The complainant attended the respondent private high school. She alleged that a colleague sexually harassed her, including by taking photos under her skirt, spreading rumours about her sex life, and circulating photos purported to be of her in the nude. She said she made a complaint about this behaviour to the school, but no action was taken. She claimed the school withdrew an award from her… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-13
The complainant said that she and her partner attended the respondent night club and they were both wearing flat leather open toed shoes. The complainant said her partner was told he was not allowed to enter because his footwear was inappropriate but she was told ‘you're a girl so your shoes are okay’. She said when she complained that this policy amounted to discrimination she was told she… -
8 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-05
The complainant is Deaf. She enrolled in a face-to-face class which was later delivered virtually due to Covid-19. She alleged the teacher declined her request to explain and then demonstrate artistic practices, saying this would take too long. She also said the teacher suggested she wait until face-to-face classes became available once more. The complainant said she was unable to enrol in… -
16 March 2022Conciliation register
2020-12-06
The complainant was placed with the respondent food services and utilities management company by a labour-hire company. She claimed she was encouraged to apply for permanent employment with the company but her application was unsuccessful and she was banned from the premises because of her criminal record. The complainant had been convicted of traffic infringements, trespassing and providing… -
Complaint Information Service29 January 2019Webpage
Information for advocates and lawyers participating in conciliation
The Commission values the positive role that advocates and lawyers can play in conciliation. Advocates and lawyers can provide important support to parties, assist parties understand and articulate how they see the law applies to a complaint and advise parties on possible options to resolve the complaint. Conciliators at the Commission decide whether it is appropriate for an advocate or… -
Complaint Information Service16 September 2021Webpage
Fact Sheet: Respect@Work - Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
On 11 September 2021 the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) which were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission in the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. -
14 January 2021Conciliation register
2019-05-19
The complainant attended the respondent film school to have a showreel recorded. She alleged the film director sexually harassed her during filming, including by saying "yes I am big… it's big alright… am I in?’. She claimed the film school did not respond to her complaint about the director’s conduct. On being advised of the complaint the respondents indicated a willingness to try to… -
Disability Rights
1 May 2024WebpageYour rights as an employee under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
Learn about the Disability Discrimination Act, what you can do if you experience discrimination and how to make a complaint to the Commission. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 October 2019Publication
Use of force in immigration detention
The issue of the use of force in immigration detention has been raised in a range of complaints against the Department of Home Affairs received by the Commission. This report deals thematically with 14 complaints. -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-12
The complainant worked as an administration assistant with the respondent infrastructure company. She alleged her manager sexually harassed her, including by making sexual advances by text message, commenting on her breasts, inviting her to a hotel and offering to go to her place and give her a massage. She said that she complained to her manager’s supervisor about the conduct. She claimed… -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-01-03
The complainant has strabismus (is ‘cross-eyed’) and was employed by a labour-hire company to work at the respondent insurance company. He alleged a colleague would make fun of him and his disability, mimic him to other staff by crossing her eyes and berate him. He said he raised concerns about this conduct with a manager and was told this was his fault because he was not a good fit for the… -
Sex Discrimination
10 August 2023Media ReleaseResource: workplace harassment, discrimination and victimisation
The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a series of resources to help organisations and businesses understand and comply with their obligations under the positive duty.