Discrimination and human rights

Yourlocal generalist Community Legal Centre can help you with information about discrimination in relation to a range of areas, including employment, disability, health, race, religion, gender, sexuality, culture and language. See the Find a Local CLC section of our website.

The following specialist CLCs have expertise in the area of discrimination and human rights, and provide a range of services and resources:

• Disability Discrimination Legal Service
  The Disability Discrimination Legal Service is a specialist CLC that handles discrimination cases. It aims to achieve positive outcomes for its clients and to set precedents that will benefit people with disabilities. Services not dependent on where you live.
• Human Rights Law Resource Centre
  The HRLRC undertakes and supportsthe provision of legal services, litigation, education, training, research and advocacy regarding human rights. Services not dependent on where you live.
• Mental Health Legal Centre
  The Mental Health Legal Centre has expertise in discrimination law. Services not dependent on where you live.

Government organisations

Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
The HREOC is a statutory body that reports to the Federal parliament, promotes and protects human rights in Australia in relation to race, sex, disability and the rights of Indigenous Australians, handles complaints, conducts research and provides advice.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Commission is a statutory body that reports to the Victorian parliament and provides information, education, consultancy services, research, legal and policy advice, publications, a resource library and complaint resolution services.

Government organisations - Courts

Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia deals with human rights and hears complaints made under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act, the Sex Discrimination Act, the Racial Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Government organisations - Tribunals

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
VCAT deals with discrimination complaints referred to it by the Equal Opportunity Commission and made under the Equal Opportunity Act and the Racial & Religious Tolerance Act. Complaint areas range from racial abuse to breastfeeding and sexual harassment.

Publications

Over the Rainbow, 2007 (4^th edition)
Published by the Victoria Law Foundation and Victoria Legal Aid, this is a publication about legal rights for the gay and lesbian community. Download Over the Rainbow from the Victoria Legal Aid website. You can also call Victoria Legal Aid on9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers) to order publications.

Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A Community Education Kit, 2004
Published by the NSW Public Interest Advocacy Centre, this kit provides community education about human rights that affect everyone in Australia through a series of fact sheets, which illustrate the international human rights standards and how human rights protection in Australia could be improved. Download Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A Community Education Kit from PIAC’s website (the fact sheets are separate but are the ones in the Books section published in 2004).

Using Disability Discrimination Law, 2006 (3^rd edition)
Published by Victoria Legal Aid, this is a guide to making a complaint about disability discrimination. Download Using Disability Discrimination Law from the Victoria Legal Aid website. You can also call Victoria Legal Aid on9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers) to order publications.

Your Right to a Fair Go brochures
Published by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, this extensive range of brochures outlines rights in different areas of human rights law. Download the Your Right to a Fair Go brochures from the Commission’s website.

You can also visit the Publications section of Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website to browse their selection of other publications.