Know your rights at work
Phone: 1300 656 419 (local call) or 02 9284 9888
E-mail: complaintsinfo@humanrights.gov.au
SMS: 0488 744 487 (0488 RIGHTS)
The Australian Human Rights Commission is a specialist agency that investigates and resolves complaints about discrimination at work. You can make a complaint no matter where you live in Australia and it doesn’t cost anything to make a complaint.
How can the Australian Human Rights Commission help?
We can help you if you have been:
- refused a job
- dismissed from a job
- refused a promotion, transfer or other benefit associated with employment
- given unfair terms or conditions of employment
- refused training opportunities
- refused flexible work arrangements
- harassed or bullied
and you believe this has happened because of your:
- disability (this includes intellectual, sensory and psychiatric disabilities; diseases or illnesses; medical conditions; work related injuries; past, present and future disabilities; and association with a person with a disability)
The Commission can also help if you have been sexually harassed at work.
Who can complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission?
We cover all types of workers including if you are:
- an apprentice or trainee
- on probation
- a part-time or full-time worker
- a casual or permanent worker
- a labour hire worker
- a contract worker
- working on commission
- on a work visa.
We cover all types of employers, no matter how big or small, including:
- the Commonwealth Government
- the State Government (except for sex discrimination)
- private companies
- small businesses
- charities
- partnerships
- faith based organisations
We also cover recruitment and employment agencies.
What can the Australian Human Rights Commission do?
We can give you information about your rights under federal anti-discrimination law and explain how you can make a complaint.
If you have a question about discrimination at work or want to make a complaint you can contact us by phone, e-mail, TTY, SMS or fax.
Phone: 1300 656 419 (local call) or 02 9284 9888
E-mail: complaintsinfo@humanrights.gov.au or SMS 0488 744 487
TTY: 1800 620 241 (toll free)
Fax: 02 9284 9611
We can look into your complaint and where appropriate, help you resolve it through a process called 'conciliation'.
Our staff have specialised skills to investigate and help people resolve complaints about discrimination in employment.
Conciliation may be offered straight away if your complaint is about your current job or if you are about to return to work. Conciliation can help you sort the problem out quickly and keep your job.
There may be other outcomes from conciliation such as: agreements to provide an apology; pay lost wages or other compensation; introduce flexible work arrangements or develop training or policies to prevent discrimination.
If your complaint cannot be resolved you may be able to take the complaint to court.
There is no time limit to make a complaint
There is no strict time by which you have to make a complaint. However, you should lodge your complaint as soon as you can as this will make it easier and quicker to sort it out.
It’s free to make a complaint
It doesn’t cost anything to make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. There are no application fees or filing fees.
You don’t need a lawyer to make a complaint or participate in conciliation. However, you can have a lawyer or an advocate help if you wish.
