Discrimination and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women
Get the facts: Know your rights
For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
women, discrimination is still a very common
experience.
Discrimination can happen because of the
colour of your skin, because you are Aboriginal
or a Torres Strait Islander, or because you
are a woman.
Discrimination on the basis of race, sex and
disability is against the law in Australia. This
includes discrimination because you are
pregnant or breastfeeding.
You can help stop discrimination.
This leaflet explains your rights and how you can stand up for them.
Racial Discrimination
means being treated differently because you are
Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person or
because of the colour of your skin.
Examples include:
- being treated rudely or refused service in a shop because you are an Aboriginal person
- being racially abused at work
- being unfairly hassled by the police and
- being refused rental housing because you are a Torres Strait Islander
Sex Discrimination
means you are treated unfairly because you are
a woman, you are pregnant or you may become
pregnant, you are breastfeeding, because of your
marital status, or your family responsibilities.
Examples include:
- being sexually harassed at work
- being sacked because you need to take time off to care for your sick mother
- being asked to leave school because you are pregnant and
- being told to leave a cafe © because you are breastfeeding your baby
Disability Discrimination
means being treated unfairly because you have a disability, injury or illness.
Examples include:
- losing your job because you are HIV positive
- not being able to get into a government office because you use a wheelchair and
- not being able to travel in a taxi with your guide dog
What can you do?
1. Find out about your rights:
- get more information from the kit Indigenous Women and Discrimination - Get the Facts: Know Your Rights available from HREOC or your local Aboriginal Legal Service or Women's Legal Service, or
- get some advice from HREOC, an
Aboriginal Women's Legal Service, union,
legal centre or working women's centre.
2. Talk to someone:
- talk to a friend or family member about what happened and what you would like to do
- talk to the person or organisation causing you problems
3. Stand up for your rights - make a complaint:
- call HREOC, your State or Territory anti-discrimination agency, a legal service, your union, or other organisation who can help you with advice on making a complaint.
For more information contact:
The Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
Complaints Info Line: 1300 656 419
TTY: 1800 620 421
Email: complaintsinfo@humanrights.gov.au
The National Network of Indigenous
Women's Legal Services Inc.
Phone: (08) 9221 9544
- Download kit (PDF 1.7 MB)
- Order a printed copy
- Leaflet
- Download leaflet (PDF 341 kb)
