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Rights and Freedoms31 July 2019Speech
Free and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah Joseph, for inviting me to speak. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the ... -
13 November 2014Book page
Commissioners’ statements
Mick Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner There have been many issues confronting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2013-14, such as the over-representation of our people in the criminal justice and child protection systems, the future of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres ... -
13 April 2015Book page
Who we are
The Australian Human Rights Commission is independent from government and established by legislation. We strive to resolve complaints, encourage positive law reform and build a shared awareness and recognition of freedoms and rights throughout Australia. We operate under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) as well as federal laws that seek to ensure freedom from discrimination on ... -
27 February 2017Book page
Findings at a glance
Finding 1 A threshold issue Ensuring all customers are treated with basic levels of respect and fairness is not viewed as high a strategic priority as expected. Only1 in 2 customers surveyed agreed that ensuring all customers are treated respectfully is a priority for organisations. Less than half of those surveyed (41%) believe that organisations treat customers respectfully, regardless of their ... -
Rights and Freedoms3 March 2023Speech
Human Rights in the time of Covid
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health emergency tested national readiness in a federal system to contain the spread of the disease effectively and required very quick action by governments. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
"Protection is not a simple concession made to the refugee: he is not an object of assistance, but rather a subject of rights and duties. Each country has the responsibility to respect the rights of refugees and assure that they are respected as much as the rights of its own citizens" [1] -
17 September 2013Book page
Who we are
The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission is to see that human rights and fundamental freedoms are understood and respected in law, policy and practice. The Commission is independent from government, with a legislative mandate, and recognised internationally as an ‘A Status’ National Human Rights Institution. We strive to resolve complaints, encourage positive law reform and build a ... -
17 September 2013Book page
Who we are
The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission is to see that human rights and fundamental freedoms are understood and respected in law, policy and practice. The Commission is independent from government, with a legislative mandate, and recognised internationally as an ‘A Status’ National Human Rights Institution. We strive to resolve complaints, encourage positive law reform and build a ... -
Rights and Freedoms1 May 2013Webpage
Rights to equality and non discrimination
Back to Rights and freedoms: right by right Introduction | What are Australia's obligations ? | What does discrimination mean ? | What grounds of discrimination are covered ? | International scrutiny | Commission work | More information | Comments Introduction Non-discrimination and equality rights are central features of the major human rights treaties. Rights of equality and non-discrimination ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Submission on the Inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce (2008)
The Australian Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’)[1] makes this submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations in its Inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce (‘the Inquiry’). -
Age Discrimination26 May 2016Publication
Qualitative study: Employment discrimination against older Australians
In 2015 the Australian Human Rights Commission engaged EY Sweeney to conduct qualitative research to supplement the 2014 quantitative national prevalence survey. -
Commission – General9 April 2013Publication
Our agenda: Commission workplan 2012-2013
This document provides an overview of the Commission’s major activities for 2012-13. The Commission regularly reviews the ways in which human rights are being observed and respected across Australia. We do this to determine where we can take practical action and make a positive difference. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice28 September 2023Opinion piece
The referendum is Australia’s gateway moment
Read Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar's op-ed in support of the Voice Referendum, published in The Guardian Australia. "We’ve been advocating for a permanent representative body for decades. My old people wanted this. My family in remote Australia facing unbelievable struggles daily want this." -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2007-2008: Chapter 1 - The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
On 14 and 15 February 2008, HREOC held a planning summit at Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont Point in Sydney, entitled HREOC21. The 21 refers to the number of years that have passed since HREOC was established by an act of federal Parliament in 1986. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 'Bringing them home' report
‘This painting is the story of us children coming home’, Chris Mason, 2007 ‘Our totem is the goanna and is culturally significant with the black and white in the centre representing assimilation and how we have learnt to live within the framework of white society. The different shades of colour in the middle show no matter the colour of our skin we are one and do belong. The border represents Link-up who made this story possible and helped bring us home. The red represents our Aboriginal bloodline that links us together. -
14 December 2012Book page
Psychological Well Being of Child and Adolescent Refugee and Asylum Seekers
This paper outlines major international research findings of the past ten years reflecting knowledge gathered about the psychological health of child and adolescent refugee/asylum seekers. In doing so, several key areas of consistency are identified. First, with the majority of research in this area centered on the prevalence of psychopathology, and particularly post-traumatic stress symptoms, it has been clearly demonstrated that refugee children and adolescents are vulnerable to the effects of pre-migration, most notably exposure to trauma. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. The adequacy and effectiveness of the policies, agreements, laws, rules and practices governing children in immigration detention or child asylum seekers and refugees residing in the community after a period of detention -
Commission – General9 April 2013Publication
Strategic Plan 2011-2014
Every three years we are required under our legislation to prepare a new Strategic Plan. We treat this as an opportunity to reflect on our effectiveness in undertaking our functions and duties, and to identify how we can ensure that our future work will result in tangible improvements in human rights for people in Australia. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
This submission aims to highlight a number of issues for children in immigration detention arising from the Department of Human Services' (DHS) involvement in child protection, health service provision to children and their families, settlement support and care of unattached minors. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Rural youth suicide: convention, context and cure: Chris Sidoti (1999)
Every suicide of a young person is not an isolated, individualised event. Certainly it robs the young person of his or her promised future. But it also traumatises the family, the friends, the school or workmates and, especially in a rural or remote community, the entire community. Every suicide of a young person speaks volumes of weeks, months, even years of confusion, alienation, hopelessness and despair leading up to the final and fatal event.