Other support for young people and the law

Bullying online or at school

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.

Who else can help

Legal services

• Disability Discrimination Legal Service – gives free legal advice and help 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 help 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 help to Victorian workers. They can give you free, confidential information and referrals about work rights.

Government organisations

Fair Work Commission

If you believe that you have been bullied at work and the bullying is continuing, you can 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.

Find out more about what you can do about bullying and discrimination at work.

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 enquiry line can provide information to people about discrimination before they choose to make a complaint.

Call 1300 292 153 or visit their website.

Discrimination

Discrimination law is complex. It can be confusing knowing where to go to make a complaint.

It's important to know that sometimes if you complain to one place, you cannot later change your mind and complain elsewhere.

It is best to call us or speak to one of the legal services listed on this page to get legal advice before lodging a complaint.

You can make a complaint online or by speaking directly to a human rights commission or industrial tribunal about making a complaint by contacting the:

• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (Victorian law)
• Australian Human Rights Commission Complaints Infoline (Commonwealth law)
• Fair Work Commission (Commonwealth workplace law).

Resources for discrimination, victimisation, sexual harassment and bullying

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website has information about:

• What is bullying – what is is, how they protect you and how to make a complaint.
• What is discrimination – the common types how to make a complaint to the commission.
• Sex discrimination(opens in a new window) – including examples of conduct that is against the law and how to make a complaint.
• Gender identity, lawful sexual activity, sexual orientation discrimination – and how to make a complaint.
• Age and race discrimination(opens in a new window) – what you can do if you believe you have been discriminated against or treated unfairly because of your age, race or what race they assume you are.
• Sexual harassment(opens in a new window) – including what you can do and how to make a complaint.
• Victimisation in the workplace(opens in a new window) – the rights of employees who have made a discrimination complaint and believe they are being victimised by their employers
• Workplace bullying(opens in a new window) – what to do if you or someone at work is being bullied
• Racial and religious vilification(opens in a new window) – what you can do if you have been vilified because of your race or religion.

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman website has information about:

• protection from discrimination at work(opens in a new window)
• what is considered workplace bullying and harassment(opens in a new window), and how the Fair Work Commission can help if you are being bullied or harassed at work.

Fair Work Commission

The Fair Work Commission website has information about:

• Workplace bullying(opens in a new window) – what it is and what the Fair Work Commission can do to help
• Sexual harassment at work – what you can do to stop this.

Young people and the police

For some matters, we may also be able to provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

You can also contact us for free information about criminal offences by making an appointment at one of our offices.

Who else can help

Legal services

• Community legal centres – they can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) – provides legal advice and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you are Koori and taken into custody, the police must tell VALS within one hour. You will get support and advice from one of their client services officers. They also have a 24-hour service.
• Law Institute of Victoria’s: Find a lawyer referral service – can help you fine a private lawyer near you. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and how much it will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Government organisations

Office of the Public Advocate – if you have a cognitive disability, they can provide an independent third person to be with you at the police station. They can be there while you are interviewed, or during procedures such as the police taking body samples.

Complaints

Visit our page Complaints about police for organisations that can help you make a complaint if you feel you have not been treated fairly by the police.

Explore our resources about young people and the police

Our free resources include:

• Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
• Drugs, the law and safer substance use
• Police powers: your rights in Victoria.

Resources from other organisations

Youthlaw

Youthlaw's website contains information about:

• Police powers and your rights on the street(opens in a new window) – including searches, move-on or stay-away orders and disorderly conduct.
• Police powers and your rights on arrest(opens in a new window) – including your rights when under arrest.

Youthlaw's Street Smart Victoria is a practical guide to knowing your rights on the streets and has information about police powers.

Work if you're under 15

Legal services

• Job Watch provides legal assistance to Victorian workers. Job Watch can give you free, confidential telephone information and referrals about work rights.
• Community legal centre can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.

Support from other services

Workplace rights

• Australian Council of Trade Unions website – trade unions can help their members with many employment issues, including questions about pay, unfair dismissals and workers’ compensation disputes.
• WorkSafe Victoria – they manage the workers compensation scheme and investigates breaches of occupational health and safety laws. There is information on their website about making a claim and returning to work after you are injured at work.
• WorkCover Assist – a free service provided by WorkSafe Victoria to help injured workers who have a WorkCover dispute with their employer. The staff will explain the conciliation process and will attend a conciliation conference to assist the employee.

Contractor rights

• Australian Government’s Business – website has information and resources about contractor rights and protections.

Complaints

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigates complaints or suspected breaches of workplace laws, awards and registered agreements and some Fair Work Commission orders. Sometimes, the Fair Work Ombudsman may take legal action to enforce workplace laws.

To make a complaint call the Fair Work Ombudsman Helpline.

Resources from government organisations

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman can help with information about pay, employee entitlements, leave, ending employment and awards and agreements.

Their website has a range of resources to help employees and contractors. It also has fact sheets about minimum workplace entitlements in Australia.

JobWatch

JobWatch can give you free and confidential phone information and referrals about your rights at work. You can contact them on (03) 9662 1933 if you are calling from a metropolitan area, or 1800 331 617 if you are calling from a regional area.

They also have information sheets about employment rights.

The Law Handbook

Fitzroy Legal Service’s Law Handbook has information about:

• employment contracts, awards and agreements
• protection for your rights at work.

WorkSafe

WorkSafe has publications and forms to help injured workers and to avoid workplace injury.

The WorkSafe website has information about:

• WorkSafe claims – including returning to work for injured workers and information for employers about the claims process
• WorkSafe insurance for employers – which covers costs if your workers are injured or become ill at work
• Laws and regulations for employers and workers – to maintain safety in the workplace.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Their website provides details of employee rights in the workplace, and what to do if you think that you have been treated unfairly.

Australian Financial Complaints Authority

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority website has information about superannuation complaints.

Underage drinking

Legal services

Your local community legal centre can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.

You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Find Your Lawyer Referral Service.

All law firms included in the service provide a free 30 minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost.

Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Help at court

• Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. You can ring them before you go to court.

Explore our resources about underage drinking

Our free publications include:

• Your day in court
• Police powers: your rights in Victoria
• Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
• Drugs, the law and safer substance use.

Resources from other organisations

• Youthlaw website – contains information about young people, alcohol and the law.

Youth allowance and payments for young people

You can call us or chat to us for free information about the law and how we can help you with your Centrelink problem.

Our lawyers may be able to help if you:

• are unsure about your rights or entitlements
• disagree with a Centrelink decision
• are being investigated for fraud or charged with a criminal offence.

For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

Legal help

• Social Security Rights Victoria is a community legal centre that provides assistance, including legal help, to people with social security problems.
• Community legal centres can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
• Economic Justice Australia is a network of community legal centres throughout Australia that specialise in social security law.

Explore our resources about youth allowance and payments for young people

Visit our pages:

• Disagree with a Centrelink decision?
• Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people.

Resources from other organisations

Economic Justice Australia

A range of fact sheets about Centrelink and social security matters are on the Economic Justice Australia website.

Centrelink

Centrelink has online estimators to help you estimate or compare various payments that you might get based on your circumstances.

The Services Australia website has information about Centrelink, including:

• owing money for a Centrelink debt
• reporting your earnings
• payments and services.

The Guide to Australian Government payments also has information about eligibility and payment rates for a wide range of Centrelink payments.

The Law Handbook

The Law Handbook from Fitzroy Legal Service has information about Centrelink payments and eligibility requirements:

• Dealing with social security.

Information for young people about child abuse and neglect

For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case. You may be eligible if you are a:

• child aged 10 or more
• parent or other person trying to have a child in your care.

Explore our resources for young people about child abuse and neglect

Visit our pages:

• Family violence and child protection.
• Parenting arrangements and child contact.

Resources from other organisations

Independent Family Advocacy and Support

Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) provides non-legal advocacy and support to parents and primary carers.

You can contact them for free in Victoria on 1800 849 200:

• Monday 9 am to 12 pm
• Wednesday 1 pm to 4 pm
• Friday 9 am to 12 pm.

On the phone, they will tell you what services they can offer you.

Aboriginal legal services

If you or your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can choose to access an Aboriginal legal service directly. Or, you can tell us that you want to be referred to one of the following services:

• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – 1800 064 865
• Djirra (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women only) – 1800 105 303.

Help for young people

Kids Helpline is a free, confidential and anonymous counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25. You can speak to a counsellor on the phone at any time of the day by calling 1800 551 800.

Visit the Kids Help Line website if you don't feel comfortable talking to someone over the phone, or if you can't get to a phone.

Counselling is also available at certain times of the day, and by email. If you need help urgently, the telephone is the fastest way of getting to a counsellor.