Only Human

Let's investigate the role of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (formerly the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) looks after issues like human rights, anti-discrimination, social justice and privacy.

Righting wrongs

Use the Human Rights Commission website and Worksite’s fact sheets on the Human Rights Commission to answer these questions:

a) When was the HRC established?
b) Who established it?
c) What is its function?
d) Make a list of the types of discrimination you think may be illegal in Australia.

Read the following case study and answer the related questions:

Aalia is a devout Muslim who wears a hijab when she works happily in a local department store. A new manager is appointed who makes inappropriate comments about Aalia’s hijab. Aalia hears her talking to her co-workers about the “Muslim girl and her ugly scarf”. Aalia feels pressured not to wear her hijab and compromised because of her religion, she becomes withdrawn in her job. Aalia is told to lift her game or she will be fired. Aalia feels pressured and resigns from her job.
a) Should Aalia’s manager be able to talk about her in this way?
b) What can Aalia do in this situation? Does she have any rights?

What if?

`Without the Australian Human Rights Commission the Australian work force would be in an altogether different condition.'

a) What do you think?
b) What would the work force be like?

See related Worksite fact sheets:
What is – The Australian Human Rights Commission
Rights - equal opportunity