Specialist sexual harassment and discrimination law services

About our service

Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected at work. Our Equality Law Program provides specialist sexual harassment and discrimination law services. This includes free legal information and advice to people who have experienced sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace.

Our lawyers have a strong commitment to helping you resolve your legal problems and get a fair outcome.

We focus on understanding your unique experience of discrimination. We will advise you about all the legal options available and support you to respond in a way that best meets your needs and interests.

We frequently hear from clients that the sexual harassment was said in a joking manner and they laughed along because they didn't know what else to do, or they just felt so uncomfortable. - Melanie Schleiger Program Manager, Equality Law Program at Victoria Legal Aid

We can help with

discrimination complaints under state and Commonwealth anti-discrimination and employment law
providing legal advice and assistance
representation at conciliation, mediations and hearings
conducting direct negotiations.

We also provide a specialist duty lawyer service for people who have a discrimination matter listed for a directions hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

We cannot help with

general employment advice
workers’ compensation claims
defending complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation made against you.

How to get help

Contact our Legal Help team for free, confidential legal information

call our Legal Help line 1300 792 387
message our online Legal Help Chat in the bottom right corner of your screen

These services are open 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. Our legal help team will be able to connect you with our specialist sexual harassment services.

If you speak another language you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask to speak to Legal Help.

If we are unable to assist you, we will refer you to another service that may be able to provide you with the support you need.

Contact our Equality Law Program directly

Send an email to equalitylaw@vla.vic.gov.au including:

your name:
DOB:
address:
contact number:
email address:
any language or other support needs:
description of your legal problem:
any urgency or time limits that may apply:

If you are making this referral on behalf of someone else, please also include:

referrer name:
referrer organisation:
referrer contact number:
referrer email:

Dedicated referral pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

We have a dedicated referral pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Please advise in your email if you would like to be connected with this team.

If you prefer to get assistance from an Aboriginal legal service provider you can contact Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service or Djirra directly, or contact our Legal Help line, Legal Help Chat or email equalitylaw@vla.vic.gov.au and be provided with a referral.

More information

Other support

Find out how you can get other support for discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Stakeholder resource pack

The following resources have been developed for stakeholder organisations to provide to clients and use to promote our services through your organisations’ channels.