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Age Discrimination
18 May 2021Publication
Employing and retaining older workers (2021)
The aim of the study was to understand organisations’ strategies to recruit and retain older workers, and how COVID-19 has impacted these strategies. -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-02-08
The complainant is a 19-year-old Aboriginal woman. She alleged that colleagues at the fast food outlet where she worked made racist and derogatory comments about Aboriginal people. She alleged that, on one occasion, her manager said she did not like 'those dirty Aboriginals'. She claimed she raised the issue with the store owner, but nothing was done. The complainant said she felt she had no… -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-11
The complainant advised she is a South Sea Islander and her husband and children are Aboriginal. She is 53 years of age and worked as an animal facility officer with the respondent local council. The complainant alleged that, during a conversation, a colleague referred repeatedly to ‘Abos’ and said words to the effect that ‘they are okay when they are not drunk’. She alleged that when… -
Race Discrimination
27 September 2019Media ReleaseSubmission on the draft Religious Discrimination Bill
The Australian Human Rights Commission supports reform to improve protections against religious discrimination for all people in Australia. While supporting much of the draft Religious Discrimination Bill, the Commission urges that the Bill be amended to avoid limiting other human rights and overriding existing anti-discrimination laws. “The Commission has advocated for more than 20 years… -
Sex Discrimination
5 March 2021WebpageInformation - Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces
Learn about the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-12
The complainant worked as a sales assistant and then as a store manager with the respondent furniture company. She alleged that two male directors and a male colleague sexually harassed her over several years, including by drawing sexually explicit cartoons and showing them to her, telling her she needed a ‘boob job’, making comments of a sexual nature, telling sexually explicit stories and … -
Sex Discrimination
7 February 2020Publication
Community Guide to the Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report 2020
Read the message from Kate Jenkins urging all employers to join her in creating safe, gender-equal and inclusive workplaces, no matter their industry or size. -
Sex Discrimination
8 April 2021Media Release
Commission welcomes response to Respect@Work Report
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the considered and constructive response to the 55 recommendations made in its 2020 Respect@Work Report on the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. The Report and the Federal Government’s response, with whole of community buy in, paves the way for globally ground-breaking reform on workplace sexual harassment. “The… -
Rights and Freedoms
21 August 2019Project
Freedom of Religion
For over 20 years now, the Commission has advocated for more comprehensive legal protection in Australia for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. -
Sex Discrimination
4 April 2023News story
Farewell to Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins
The Commission farewells Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, celebrating the lasting impact her work has had on Australian workplaces and communities. -
Rights and Freedoms
28 October 2020Webpage
Where is the line on COVID-19 emergency measures?
Learn how limitations to human rights must be necessary and proportionate, including during a pandemic situation such as COVID-19. -
Sex Discrimination
5 March 2020Media Release
Launch of Respect@Work report of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has today launched Respect@Work, the Australian Human Rights Commission’s report of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces 2020. The report is the culmination of the world-first 18-month National Inquiry, which examined the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, the drivers of this… -
Disability Rights
29 November 2021VideoIncludeAbility 'Meet the Experts'
'Meet the Experts' IncludeAbility Video Campaign The IncludeAbility project’s new video ‘Meet the Experts’ showcases the skills, knowledge and experience that Australians with disability bring to their workplaces. By featuring ten real employees with lived experience of a variety of disabilities, ‘Meet the Experts’ breaks down attitudinal barriers and misconceptions around employment… -
Sex Discrimination
28 January 2020Publication
Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020)
Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces. -
Sex Discrimination
8 October 2021Submission
Senate Select Committee on Job Security
The nature and level of women’s employment is the most significant factor influencing Australia’s position on gender equality, which harms women, families, communities, and the economy. According to KPMG modelling, halving the gap between men’s and women’s workforce participation in Australia would produce an additional $60 billion in GDP by 2038, and cumulative living standards would increase by… -
9 May 2024Conciliation register
2021-06-12
The complainant is African and has dark skin. He alleged colleagues made offensive comments related to his race, including that he only looked good in a mask because of his flat nose, he was another colleague’s ‘black boy’, and the he only has a ‘big dick’ because he is black. Upon being notified of the complaint, the respondents indicated a willingness to participate in conciliation to try… -
Disability Rights
11 September 2019Speech
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities briefing with civil society (2019)
22nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities briefing with civil society, Monday, 9 September 2019 Geneva, Palais des Nations Room XVII Opening Statement of Australian Human Rights Commission Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Thank you, Mr Chairman. I welcome the opportunity to make this … -
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… -
Rights and Freedoms
5 May 2019Speech
40+ 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… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Annual Report 2003-2004 : Chapter 4: Complaint Handling Section
The Complaint Handling Section (CHS) is responsible, through the President, for investigating and conciliating complaints lodged under federal anti-discrimination and human rights law. The CHS also delivers a Complaint Information Service. Accordingly, the CHS plays a key role in fulfilling the Commission's objective of delivering an Australian society in which human rights are protected.