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21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-20
The complainant’s son is 16 years of age and attended the respondent public high school. The complainant and her son are Aboriginal. The complainant alleged her son was required to complete a comprehension test with statements such as ‘universities started accepting all women in 1875’ and ‘all women were granted suffrage in 1902’. She said her son would be required to treat such statements… -
Children's Rights
12 November 2014SpeechProtected and safe: a child’s right, our responsibility
Megan MitchellNational Children’s Commissioner National Child Protection WeekGala Dinner – Alice SpringsThursday 11 September Introduction Thank you, Jade and Jacob and good evening everyone. I’m delighted to be here tonight as part of National Child Protection Week. Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting today, the Arrentre – Arrunda - people… -
Employers18 February 2015Webpage
Age discrimination
Learn how age discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably because they are considered to be too old or too young. -
Rights and Freedoms
30 March 2019Speech‘Free and Equal’: Making Human Rights Education a Priority
National FutureSchools Expo and Conferences 21 March 2019, Melbourne Introduction I pay my respects to the Wurudjeri peoples of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of this land—to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations, the children and young people that look to us as educators. I also extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
12 September 2019PublicationMs HM and Master YM v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
Ms HM and Master YM v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs) [2018] AusHRC 127 Report into arbitrary interference with family and failure to consider the best interests of the child Introduction to this inquiry This is a report setting out the findings of the Australian Human Rights Commission (Commission) following an inquiry into a complaint by Ms HM and Master YM against… -
21 January 2020Conciliation register
2018-05-12
The complainant attended an interview with the respondent recruitment agency for a role in aged care. She claimed she was assured of ongoing paid employment and purchased a uniform on the day. The complainant alleges that, after she disclosed her criminal record, the agency stopped contacting her and ultimately told her she was unsuitable for the role. The complainant had been charged with… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 October 2022Media Release
New report aims to help fast-track Australia’s OPCAT implementation process
A new report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission outlines activities required to expedite Australia’s sluggish approach to implementing the United Nation’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Informed by the Commission’s recent National OPCAT Symposium, the Road Map to OPCAT Compliance… -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Chapter 2
Every morning our people would crush charcoal and mix that with animal fat and smother that all over us, so that when the police came they could only see black children in the distance. We were told always to be on the alert and, if white people came, to run into the bush or run and stand behind the trees as stiff as a poker, or else hide behind logs or run into culverts and hide. Often the white… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the Expert seminar on Indigenous Peoples and the administration of justice (2003)
This submission is made by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on behalf of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) of Australia. HREOC is Australia’s national human rights institution established by a law of the federal Parliament and operating in compliance with the ‘Paris Principles’ for national institutions for the… -
Children's Rights
12 April 2023Event
Webinar: Reinventing schools to support learning & wellbeing for all
If we want children to flourish, we must ask ourselves if the school system is doing the right thing by them. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fault lines that emerge when health and learning aren’t considered holistically. Declining mental health, disengagement from learning, disruption among social connections and vastly reduced physical activity were some of the impacts on children… -
Children's Rights
9 September 2022Speech
Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. Shining a light on supporting children to grow up safe and supported
His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley. Thank you for launching National Child Protection Week 2022 and for hosting us today. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respect to their elders, past, present and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
15 March 2023WebpageAbout Constitutional Recognition
What is the Constitution, what does constitutional recognition mean for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and what has happened to get there? -
Children's Rights
18 April 2013Speech
Walking the talk: Towards authentic child voice
It’s fantastic to be amongst so many people committed to the wellbeing of Australia’s children. I’m thrilled to have been invited today by Prue Warrilow, Brian Babington and Families Australia and feel honoured to deliver the Berry Street Childhood Institute Families Australia Oration as my first speaking engagement as inaugural National Children’s Commissioner. -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 4 - Introduction: Social Justice Report 2009
Homelands still belong to the people, we want to build homes on our land and live there. When we come to the homeland we come back to the peace and quiet. ... It is a much better environment on the homelands, better things for the children.[1] -
14 December 2012Book page
Indigenous Deaths in Custody: Chapter 9 Juveniles
Explore a report prepared for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission into the deaths in custody of Indigenous juveniles. -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Penny & Murray story
In 1958, whilst our family [Penny aged 10, her brother Trevor 11, Murray 7, sister Judy 6 and baby Olive was five or six weeks old, their mother and step-father] were all resident at a house situated in Cairns, my mother's capacity to look after her children in a fit and proper manner became the subject of challenge within the Cairns District Children's Court. This action was initiated by Sgt Syd… -
Rights and Freedoms
25 June 2020Publication
Freedom of Religion in Australia: a focus on serious harms (2020)
The right to freedom of religion is recognised in international human rights law and receives some protection in Australia’s federal, state and territory laws. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
We commend HREOC for instituting this Inquiry and thank them for giving us the opportunity to make input on an issue which is of grave concern to the Co-operative which, for 23 years has been advocating for the rights and needs of immigrant children and their families in a diverse multicultural society. -
14 December 2012Book page
Mandatory detention laws in Australia (2001)
This paper gives a brief overview of the mandatory detention laws currently operating in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It examines their operation and gives some insights into how they have impacted on particular groups including young people and Indigenous Australians. It gives a critique of mandatory detention by reference to Australia's international human rights obligations,… -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2008-2009: Chapter 10
This year marked the end of my nationwide Listening Tour and the beginning of what has been a busy but rewarding time in my term as Commissioner. I am delighted to report that it has been an exciting year for progressing gender and age equality in Australia. The Listening Tour played an important role in setting the agenda for my term. In deciding where the Commission should focus its efforts, I…