Australian Human Rights Commission
e-bulletin
October 2010
Welcome
Welcome to the October issue of the Australian Human Rights Commission's monthly e-bulletin, where we will keep you up-to-date with our latest programs, projects and news.
Please forward to friends and colleagues who have an interest in human rights and social justice issues.
In this e-bulletin
- Changes to GP Standards improve health outcomes for all
- National Press Club Address - Towards a reconciled Australia
- Consultation on protection from discrimination
- Our agenda
- One week left to register for major international human rights conference in Sydney
- See below for more...
Changes to GP Standards improve health outcomes for all
 |
A patient negotiates a fixed height bed - hopefully a thing of the past! |
The Commission has congratulated the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) for its decision to ensure that height adjustable examination beds are available in each General Practice.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes, said the Commission had advocated for this for a number of years and said it was an important decision that would help to improve health outcomes experienced by people with disability compared to those of the broader population.
“One small but important barrier to equitable health outcomes for people with disability has been the lack of availability of height adjustable examination beds in general practices,” Commissioner Innes said.
“The lack of these beds has resulted in missed opportunities for thorough and dignified examinations and screening," he said.
Commissioner Innes acknowledged the original research on this issue undertaken by Sheila King, and congratulated Women with Disabilities Australia, People with Disability Australia, Physical Disability Council NSW and COTA NSW on their advocacy in bringing about this change.
“The availability of height adjustable examination beds will improve the capacity of health professionals to effectively examine and screen all patients,” Mr Innes said.
More information at humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/health/open0807.htm
National Press Club Address - Towards a reconciled Australia
 |
Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice, will deliver a major address at the National Press Club on 3 November |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda will address the National Press Club on Wednesday, 3 November 2010 to outline what he considers to be the key priorities for his term as Social Justice Commissioner.
Commissioner Gooda will speak about the issues critical to the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in contemporary 21st Century Australia.
He will focus on how building and strengthening relationships are central elements for a healthy, respectful and reconciled Australia, with issues such as Constitutional recognition guaranteed to be top of the list in his address.
Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
Tickets are $55 (member) or $75 (non-member) and can be obtained by registering at www.npc.org.au/upcomingspeakers.html
Commissioner Gooda's address will be held on Wednesday November 3, 2010, 11.45am – 1.30pm at the National Press Club 16 National Circuit, Canberra.
Consultation on protection from discrimination
 |
Consultation: Protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity |
The Commission is conducting a short consultation regarding federal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity.
Commission President and Human Rights Commissioner Catherine Branson QC, said the Commission had been calling for federal protection on these grounds for many years.
“Currently, federal law protects against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability and age,” President Branson said.
“However, there is little protection in federal law, unlike in state and territory laws, from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity.”
Information about the consultation, including a Discussion Paper can be accessed online at www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/index.html.
Roundtable conversations will be held in Sydney on 28 October, and in Melbourne on 9 November. Written comments will be accepted up until Friday 26 November.
To express your interest in attending a roundtable session or to provide comments please email lgbti@humanrights.gov.au.
At the conclusion of the consultation the Commission will prepare a report summarising the views expressed by those who participated.
Our agenda
 |
Our agenda: Commission Workplan 2010 - 2012 |
The Commission has launched ‘Our Agenda’ - a brochure outlining its priorities and workplan from 2010 – 2012.
Commission President Catherine Branson QC, said the Commission regularly reviewed the human rights situation in Australia to determine where it could take practical action and make a positive difference.
For 2010 – 2012, the Commission will prioritise work that tackles violence, harassment and bullying, and builds community understanding and respect for rights.
Ms Branson said that there is no simple way to solve complex human rights issues, so the Commission’s work is framed by five themes including: setting and advancing national agendas; building human rights into Australian laws and practices; resolving discrimination and human rights complaints; monitoring and reporting; and, engaging regionally and internationally.
Our agenda can be found at: www.humanrights.gov.au/about/agenda.html
One week left to register for major international human rights conference in Sydney
The upcoming International Conference on Educating for Human Rights, Peace and Interculture Dialogue being held at the University of Western Sydney is set to provide a rare opportunity for human rights education experts, practitioners and those interested in learning more, to exchange ideas on education and community engagement strategies.
Organised in response to the UN World Programme for Human Rights Education to advance human rights education, the Conference will feature workshops and world class speakers who will focus on the contribution of human rights culture to the good functioning of civil society.
The Conference will also highlight key trends and achievements in human rights education and will aim to secure greater commitment for future human rights education.
Those interested need to hurry however as registrations close on 22 October.
The Conference is being held at the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney between 4-6 November 2010.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is a supporter of the Conference with Commission President Catherine Branson, delivering a keynote address.
For more information go to: www.humanrightseducationconference2010.com.au
Recent media releases
- Commissioner to examine international student experience (13 October 2010)
- Unchanged census results point to the need for continued radical change (6 October 2010)
- Time for a social movement to eradicate age discrimination (1 October 2010)
Recent speeches
- Creating Futures 2010 Conference
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda (20 September 2010) - Indigenous Forum, National Mental Health Services Conference
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda (14 September 2010) - Book launch: Federalism, Feminism and Multilevel Governance and Sex Discrimination in Uncertain Times
Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination (29 September 2010)
Recent podcasts
Two new Pod Rights episodes are now available.
Episode 19It seems that unlawful age discrimination and ageism are unnoticed, invisible and accepted in our society. Recently, the Commission released the Age discrimination - exposing the hidden barrier for mature age workers paper, which sought to expose and raise awareness about this issue. In this instalment of PodRights, Race and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes talks to the Commission's age discrimination expert, Priya SaratChandran about ageism, unlawful age discrimination and the barriers that they create for mature age workers who are in or seeking employment in Australia today.
Episode 18
Almost 30 years since the passage of the Sex Discrimination Act, the prevalence of sexual harassment has not diminished. Research has shown that there is significant confusion as to what actions constitute sexual harassment in the workplace, where the 'workplace' can be deemed to begin and end and what organisations can do to eliminate it. In this week's PodRights, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick discusses these issues with Peter Wilson, national president of the Australian Human Resources Institute, who has labelled sexual harassment 'a corporate cancer'.
Go to www.humanrights.gov.au/podcasts for audios and transcripts of all Pod Rights.
Get involved - upcoming events
For the latest media releases, speeches, opinion pieces, go to the media centre on the Commission’s website at: www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/
