Understanding Aboriginal Women’s Rights

Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) – established under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, the AHRC operates independently to “protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally”.¹

Complaints – the AHRC can act as an independent third party to investigate and resolve discrimination issues and human rights breaches.²

How are Human Rights Protected in Australian Law? – the AHRC explains how human rights are protected under Australian law, including reference to the Constitution, High Court and common law, as well as the role of the Australian Human Rights Commission, and its legislative powers and responsibilities under the Act.

Legislation – the AHRC provides an overview of Commonwealth legislation that protects people from discrimination, this includes:

• Racial Discrimination Act 1975;
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984;
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992; and
• Age Discrimination Act 2004.³

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights – an association of legal professionals focused on the application of international human rights standards in Australia.⁴

Australian Pro Bono Centre – the national centre for pro bono legal services focused on closing the justice gap and creating a more just society.⁵ The Centre provides links to legal help in each jurisdiction, pro bono assistance and self-help legal information.

Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) – established in Melbourne in 1997, the AWL represents state and territory women lawyers associations, with the aim of supporting women in the profession, and as such, achieving justice and equality for all women.⁶ The AWL provides a link to find female barristers or lawyers in each jurisdiction.

Community Legal Centres Australia – peak body representing the eight state and territory community legal associations, and as such, 180 community legal centres across Australia.⁷

Equal Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights organisations at state and territory level.

ACT Human Rights Commission – a government agency that provides information and services to promote human rights and welfare for those living in the ACT, including reference to the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 and Discrimination Act 1991.⁸

Anti-Discrimination New South Wales – a government agency responsible for administering the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 which aims to eliminate discrimination in New South Wales.⁹

Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity – an independent statutory body focused on promoting equality, preventing discrimination and ensuring economic and social participation for all citizens of South Australia.¹⁰ The Office has legislative responsibilities under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

Equal Opportunity Commission (Western Australia) – a government agency responsible for administering the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 which aims to promote equality and remedy discrimination in Western Australia.¹¹

Equal Opportunity Tasmania – a government agency responsible for administering the Anti-Discrimination Act 1988 which aims to foster a non-discriminatory society.¹²

Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission – aims to promote equal opportunity for all people living in the Northern Territory, as well as eliminate discrimination under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992.¹³

Queensland Human Rights Commission – a statutory body established under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 that aims to foster a more inclusive society through the protection and strengthening of human rights in Queensland.¹⁴

Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission – an independent organisation with responsibilities under Victoria’s human rights laws which aim to protect and promote human rights across Victoria.¹⁵

Everyday Justice – a Mills Oakley philanthropic initiative that provides a national free legal service about everyday legal issues including discrimination matters.¹⁶

Human Rights Advocates (HRA) Australia – a national advocacy service focused on the preservation of human rights and discrimination.¹⁷ HRA will refer to legal counsel if required.

Human Rights Law Centre – an independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation that broadly supports the elimination of inequality and injustice for all Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Rights.¹⁸

Law Council of Australia – the national peak body of the Australian legal profession representing 17 Constituent Bodies, including Australia’s Law Societies and Bar Associations.¹⁹

Australian Law Societies – each Society acts in the interests of its independent legal professions and provides information about accessing legal help, including pro bono, within the jurisdiction.

• The Law Society of the ACT
• The Law Society of NSW
• The Law Society Northern Territory
• Queensland Law Society
• Law Society of South Australia
• The Law Society of Tasmania
• Law Institute of Victoria
• Law Society of Western Australia

Australian Bar Associations – each Association regulates and supports barristers within its jurisdiction, as well as providing a search facility to locate  practising barristers.

• Australian Capital Territory Bar Association
• New South Wales Bar Association
• Northern Territory Bar Association
• Bar Association of Queensland
• South Australian Bar Association
• Tasmanian Bar
• Victorian Bar
• Western Australian Bar Association

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) – the national representative body for seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services across Australia.^[20]

National Legal Aid – represents the eight state and territory legal aid commissions which are independent, statutory bodies focused on the provision of legal assistance to the public.^[21]

Youth Law Australia – a community legal service offering free and confidential advice for young people under 25.^[22]

Contact details for some relevant organisations and individuals in each jurisdiction. Note, the depth of human rights work each organisation does is not clear, however most offer a variety of legal assistance, including discrimination. The directory does not list every legal service or centre in Australia, but offers starting points nationally, or at state and territory levels.

National & States and Territories Organisations

ACT Human Rights Commission. “Home.”  Accessed December 2, 2022, https://hrc.act.gov.au/.

Australian Pro Bono Centre. “About The Centre.” Accessed December 3, 2022. https://www.probonocentre.org.au/about-the-centre/.

Australian Human Rights Commission. “About.” Accessed December 1, 2022, para 1. https://humanrights.gov.au/about.

Australian Human Rights Commission. “Complaints.” Accessed December 1, 2022. https://humanrights.gov.au/complaints#main-content.

Australian Human Rights Commission. “How are Human Rights Protected in Australian Law?” Accessed November 17, 2022. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/how-are-human-rights-protected-australian-law.

Australian Human Rights Commission. “Legislation.” Accessed November 24, 2022, https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/legislation.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. “Who Are We?” 2022. https://alhr.org.au/about-us/.

Australian Women Lawyers. “About..,” Accessed December 4, 2022. https://australianwomenlawyers.com.au/about-2/.

Equal Opportunity Tasmania. “About Us.” Accessed December 2, 2022. https://equalopportunity.tas.gov.au/about_us.

Everyday Justice. “Home.” 2022. https://everydayjustice.com.au/.

Government of Western Australia. “About the Equal Opportunity Commission.” Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/equal-opportunity-commission/about-the-equal-opportunity-commission.

Human Rights Advocates Australia. “About Human Rights Advocates Australia.” 2021. https://humanrightsadvocates.com.au/.

Human Rights Law Centre. “What We Do.” 2020. https://www.hrlc.org.au/what-we-do.

Law Council of Australia. “About Us.” Accessed December 4, 2022. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/about-us.

National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. “About.” 2022. https://www.natsils.org.au/about/.

National Legal Aid. “About National Legal Aid.” 2022. https://www.nationallegalaid.org/about-us/.

Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission. “About.” Accessed December 2, 2022. https://adc.nt.gov.au/about.

Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity. “What We Do.” Accessed December 2, 2022. https://www.equalopportunity.sa.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do.

Queensland Human Rights Commission. “About Us.” Accessed December 3, 2022. https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/about-us.

State of New South Wales (Department of Communities and Justice). “What We Do.”  2022. https://antidiscrimination.nsw.gov.au/anti-discrimination-nsw/about-us/what-we-do.html.

Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission. “Our Role, Functions and Services.” Accessed December 1, 2022. https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-services/#We-provide-information-about-equal-opportunity-and-human-rights.

Youth Law Australia. “About Us.” Accessed November 24, 2022. https://yla.org.au/about-us/.