How we can help
People who have been treated unfairly are often unsure about whether the behaviour they have experienced is actually against the law. If you think you have been treated unfairly at work or in other areas of public life, our Equality Law Program provides specialist sexual harassment and discrimination serivces and can help you understand your legal options. Our specialised team of lawyers provide advice and representation to eligible people experiencing discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.
Our lawyers may be able to help you if you have experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation, or racial or religious vilification in areas such as:
- education
- employment (including partnerships and contractors)
- buying or selling goods or services
- accommodation
- clubs and sporting activities
- working as a volunteer
- treatment by local councils, governments and organisations providing public services
- entry to shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
In some cases we may be able to negotiate, make a complaint, or take legal action in a court or tribunal.
We do not provide general employment advice and we do not help people to defend complaints of discrimination that have been made against them. We also do not help people with complaints about bullying, unless it is linked to discrimination.
Contact our Legal Help team for free, confidential legal information:
- call our Legal Help line
- Get help in your language
- Get support if you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone
Our legal help team will be able to connect you with our specialist sexual harassment services. If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
Contact our Equality Law Program team directly:
Send an email to equalitylaw@vla.vic.gov.au including:
- Referrer name:
- Referrer organisation:
- Referrer contact number:
- Referrer email:
- Name:
- DOB:
- Address:
- Contact number:
- Email:
- Any language or other support needs:
- Description of your legal problem:
- Any urgency or time limits that may apply:
Making a complaint about discrimination
Discrimination law is complex. It can be confusing knowing where to go to make a complaint. There are often several options available, such as complaining to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission or the Australian Human Rights Commission or the Fair Work Commission (the workplace relations tribunal).
If you complain to one place, sometimes you cannot later change your mind and complain elsewhere. It is best to call us or speak to one of the services listed on this page to get legal advice before lodging a complaint.
However, if you want to speak directly to a human rights commission or industrial tribunal about making a complaint you can contact:
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (Victorian law)
- Australian Human Rights Commission Complaints Infoline (Commonwealth law)
- Fair Work Commission (Commonwealth workplace law).
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Other legal services in Victoria may also be able to provide you with legal help.
- Disability Discrimination Legal Service gives free legal advice and assistance to anyone who wants to make a complaint about being discriminated against on the grounds of their disability.
- AED Legal Centre gives free legal advice and assistance to people with a disability in the areas of employment, education and training.
- Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service is a Victorian community legal centre located in Geelong that helps with disability related legal issues. They mostly help people who have an intellectual disability.
- JobWatch is an employment rights legal centre which provides legal assistance to Victorian workers. They can give you free, confidential telephone information and referrals about work rights.
- WEstjustice provides free legal help to people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission investigates and provides concilliation for discrimination and human rights complaints. The complaints process is free and confidential and allows individuals to resolve disputes quickly and effectively.
Fair Work Commission
If you reasonably believe that you have been bullied at work and the bullying is continuing you may apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order to stop the bullying. The commission must start dealing with your application within 14 days. They will investigate the complaint and may make orders they think are necessary to prevent the bullying from happening again.
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides education, assistance and advice about workplace law, as well as monitoring compliance and investigating breaches of the Fair Work Act. The Ombudsman can help with some issues around sexual harassment at work. This is usually after an employee has already sought help, such as via the Fair Work Commission or another government body.
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
If you are under 18 and have experienced cyberbullying, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner. They will assess your complaint and decide whether to investigate or take some other action.
They also have a list of social media services' safety centres where you can report abuse or content that you find offensive.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website has information about a range of discrimination topics.
You can also call the enquiry line for information about discrimination, before making a complaint. Call the enquiry line on 1300 292 153.
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