ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ

My grandmother, Rebecca, was born around 1890. She lived with her tribal people, parents and relations around the Kempsey area. Rebecca was the youngest of a big family. One day some religious people came, they thought she was a pretty little girl. She was a full blood aborigine about five years old. Anyway those people took her to live with them.

I was born in May 1964. My Mother and I lived together within an inner suburb of Melbourne. At the age of five and a half months, both my Mother and I became ill. My Mother took me to the Royal ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ's Hospital, where I was admitted.

My family went to Cherbourg. They volunteered to go there during the Depression. So I would have been about 6 months old when grandfather, who was, I mean, he was independent. He had eight kids all birthed out in the trees you know, under the stars. My mother spoke her own language. She had me with the promise to marry my father. And then when the Depression came they talked to the policeman. He…

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 ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ's Court. This action was initiated by Sgt Syd…

I was born on Cape Barren. At the time I was taken the family comprised mum, my sister and [my two brothers]. And of course there was my grandmother and all the other various relatives. We were only a fairly small isolated community and we all grew up there in what I considered to be a very peaceful loving community. I recall spending most of my growing up on the Island actually living in the…

This report covers my final year as the Race Discrimination Commissioner, a position I have occupied for five years alongside my position as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

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…

The International Labour Organization Convention 111 deals with discrimination in employment and occupation. Australian adherence to this Convention provides that all people have the right to equal treatment in employment and occupation without discrimination on the basis of:

Annual Report 2008 - 2009 Appendix 2: Commission publications released during 2008-09 Back to Contents General ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ Us: ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ brochure (updated 2009) ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ Annual Report 2007-08 (tabled report 2008) 2008 Human Rights Medals and Awards brochure (2008) Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (2008) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice…

The Commission frequently receives international visitors and participates in meetings with individuals and representatives of organisations concerned with human rights.

During 2008-09, the Commission received 13 initial requests for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The Commission was also asked to conduct an internal review of one of those decisions.

Learn about the complaint handling process in the 2008-2009 annual report.

The Commission reviews staff performance annually through its Performance Management Scheme. The Scheme provides an opportunity to set goals and priorities in line with our Strategic Plan and to assess the level of individual performance and contribution to Unit outcomes. The Scheme also provides an opportunity to identify and address learning and development needs and to plan effectively for the…

Understand key terms from the 2008-2009 annual report glossary.

Learn about milestones in the 2007-2008 annual report.

On 14 and 15 February 2008, HREOC held a planning summit at Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont Point in Sydney, entitled HREOC21. The 21 refers to the number of years that have passed since HREOC was established by an act of federal Parliament in 1986.

A central function of HREOC is to undertake education programs that increase public awareness and generate discussion of human rights and anti-discrimination issues within Australia. HREOC’s legislative responsibilities are:

Learn about the monitoring of human rights in the 2007-2008 annual report.

Chapter 4 Complaint Handling Section Back to Contents 4.1 OVERVIEW OF THE WORK COMPLAINT HANDLING SECTION 4.1.1 Key performance indicators and standards 4.1.2 Customer satisfaction survey 4.1.3 Service Charter 4.1.4 Access to complaint services 4.1.5 Community education 4.1.6 Staff training and training as provider 4.1.7 Research and conference presentations 4.1.8 International conference

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act gives HREOC the function of inquiring into complaints concerning breaches of human rights by the Commonwealth (or persons/organisations acting on behalf of the Commonwealth) and discrimination in employment.