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14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-02-06
The complainant has macula degeneration, which causes vision loss. The respondent transportation company terminated the complainant’s employment as an engineer at the end of his probation period. The complainant alleged the company failed to provide him with timely feedback on his performance and failed to provide him with adjustments to enable him to perform the inherent requirements of his job ... -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-04-03
The complainant has schizophrenia and a back injury and was employed in an IT role with the respondent government agency. He alleged he was treated less favourably because he has schizophrenia, including by being excluded from the workplace, being given excessive work to perform at home, having his personal property tampered with and being referred to as ‘weird’. He also alleged the agency failed ... -
11 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-01-12
The complainant had been a volunteer with the respondent community organisation. She alleged that when she expressed interest in applying for an advertised paid position, a manager told her the organisation was looking for a male because physical strength was required. The complainant was appointed to the paid position and alleged the same manager sexually harassed her, including by kissing her on ... -
Complaint Information Service3 February 2023Webpage
Fact Sheet: Respect@Work – Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act (December 2022)
On 12 December 2022, the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (the AHRCA). These changes were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) following its inquiry Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageFederal Discrimination Law 2005: Chapter 7: Damages and Remedies
If the court concerned is satisfied that there has been unlawful discrimination by any respondent, the court may make such orders (including a declaration of right) as it thinks fit, including any of the following orders or any order to a similar effect: -
Rights and Freedoms
12 October 2021Webpage
COVID-19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law
This page provides general information on COVID–19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law and is intended as a guide only. It gives guidance on the most frequently asked questions we receive on this subject. -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-12
The complainant has a vision impairment and was employed by the respondent community organisation. She alleged the organisation did not provide adjustments to accommodate her disability, including a larger computer screen. She also alleged she was required to access the organisation’s server via her mobile phone or library computers for several months. She claimed the requirement to access the ... -
Age Discrimination
29 September 2023Opinion pieceReaching across generations brings benefits for everyone
By Commission President and Acting Age Discrimination Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM Every year on the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP), the world comes together to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of older people in our communities. This year’s IDOP theme is ‘Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons Across ... -
27 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-06-12
The complainant is a teenager and alleged her manager sexually harassed her, including by asking her how much he would have to pay her to have sex with him, whether she masturbated and whether she had ever had an orgasm. She also alleged he offered to buy her a vibrator. She said she made a complaint to a senior manager, but he took no action and allowed the conduct to continue. She also alleged ... -
13 December 2019Conciliation register
2018-10-04
The complainant has epilepsy and was a graduate nurse with the respondent public health service. She said she had a seizure before commencing employment. She said the health service’s occupational physician declared her fit for duties so long as she was not placed on night-shift or back-to-back shifts. The complainant claimed the health service told her that the restrictions could not be ... -
6 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-14
The complainant was employed on a casual basis as a driver for a goods transport company. She alleged that when her partner told the operations manager that she was pregnant, he said words to the effect that "we can't have pregnant chicks working here" and she was not offered any more work. The company denied that the alleged statement was made and said the complainant was not offered work because ... -
Legal
5 February 2019Submission
ParentsNext, including its trial and subsequent broader rollout (2019)
ParentsNext is a compulsory ‘pre-employment’ program applied to targeted recipients of the Parenting Payment. It can result in the suspension, reduction or permanent cancellation of a person’s Parenting Payment for non-compliance. -
Age Discrimination
30 September 2019Media Release
International Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to consider the contribution made by older Australian workers and the importance of creating age friendly workplaces. The percentage of Australians aged 65 and over in the labour force doubled between 2000 and 2015 - and 20% of people over 70 are still working. We need to continue this trend so individuals can contribute and continue to earn ... -
Commission – General
17 January 2019Media ReleaseFinalists for 2018 Government Award revealed
Four finalists have been selected from a diverse range of nominations for the 2018 Human Rights Awards’ Government Award. This year marks the first time our Awards recognise Government as a stand-alone category. “There are many Government groups and individuals helping others overcome discrimination and isolation and building tolerance and respect in the community and further afield,” said ... -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media Release
Modern Slavery and Beyond
As the Federal Senate debates the Modern Slavery Bill this week, the 2018 Australian Dialogue on Business and Human Rights takes place in Sydney today with modern slavery prevention as the key theme. It’s the fifth time the Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission have joined forces to address the ongoing challenges facing business, government, civil society ... -
2 November 2020Webpage
About
We protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally. The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation, established by an act of Federal Parliament. -
Disability Rights
30 April 2024Webpage
Establishing a Disability Employee Network
Learn about establishing a Disability Employee Network - an employee-led group championing the inclusion of people with disability within their workplace. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board
The government has an obligation to take action to address violence and abuse, particularly where there is evidence that is it widespread. Governments that fail to do so are in breach of their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRoC), the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). -
Sex Discrimination
28 November 2022Media ReleasePassage of ‘Respect@Work’ Bill is a major step in preventing harassment
The Bill creates a positive duty requiring employers to implement measures to prevent sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation, and confers new regulatory powers on the Commission. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 March 2023Speech
Respect@Work – a focus on our profession
This paper considers the amendments to laws regarding workplace bullying and sexual harassment and the employer’s responsibility implementing recommendations of the Commission’s Respect@Work report (2020).