YourRighttoanEducation
A guide for educators and people with disability
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ProjectManager
SallyBailey
NationalDisabilityCoordinationOfficerSouthernMelbourne
SkillsPlusBrace
Plain EnglishTranslations
DisabilityDiscriminationLegalServiceInc.Melbourne
WebsiteDevelopmentandBookletDesignCreativeCats
Thankstothemanywhosefeedbackandadvicecontributedtotheproductionofthisbookletandtherelatedwebsite
ThisbookletandwebsitearebasedonapreviousNationalDisabilityCoordinationOfficerstrategicprojectbetweenGarryKerridgeBallaratUniversityandSallyBaileySkillsPlus.TheredevelopmentofthisbookletandwebsitewerefundedbytheAustralianGovernmentDepartmentofEducation andTraining.
TheNDCOprogramisproudlyhostedbySkillsPlusandBracePrinted2015
TABLEOFCONTENTS
About this booklet...... 2
Education standards...... 3
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION LAW IN AUSTRALIA...... 3
THE DISABILITY STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION...... 3
WHO IS PROTECTED UNDER THE EDUCATIONSTANDARDS?...3
WHO HAS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE STANDARDS?...... 4
WHAT ARE THEOBLIGATIONS?...... 4
WHEN DO THE EDUCATION STANDARDS APPLY?...... 5
Case StudyOne...... 7
Case StudyTwo...... 7
EXCEPTIONS FOR EDUCATIONPROVIDERS...... 8
CONSULTING WITH YOUR EDUCATIONPROVIDER...... 9
Case StudyThree...... 10
GLOSSARY...... 11
LEGAL AND ADVOCACYSERVICES...... 14
MAKING A COMPLAINT TO THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTSCOMMISSION(AHRC) 17
Disability DiscriminationAct
ABOUTTHISBOOKLET
TheDisabilityDiscriminationAct(DDA)EducationStandardsbecamefederallawinAugust2005.ThisbooklethasbeenproducedtoprovideinformationtostudentsandtheirfamiliesabouthowtheStandardsmayaffectthem.Furthercopiesofthisbrochuremaybedownloadedfromthewebsite.
About theWebsite
AwebsitehasbeendesignedtohelpusersunderstandimportantpartsoftheDDAEducationStandards.Whetheryouareapersonwithdisability,anassociateofapersonwithdisability,orapersoninvolvedinthedeliveryofeducation,thiswebsitewillhelpyouunderstandsomeimportantpartsofthe
DDAEducationStandards.ItdoesnotcoverthefulldetailoftheDDAEducationStandards,justthemoreimportantpartsoftheStandards.Theinformationisprovidedinthreedifferentways:
•Plain EnglishText
•AUSLAN
•Audioformat
Ifyoufeelyouhavebeendiscriminatedagainstbecauseofyourdisabilityyouarestronglyadvisedtoseeklegaladvice.AlistofCommunityLegalCentrescanbefoundinthisbooklet.
EDUCATIONSTANDARDS
Disability Discrimination Law inAustralia
Disabilitydiscriminationiswhereapersonistreatedunfairlyorharassedbecauseoftheirdisability.TheDisabilityDiscriminationAct(DDA)makesdiscriminationonthegroundsofaperson’sdisabilityagainstthelaw,withsomeexceptions.TheDDAapplieseverywhereinAustraliaandislookedafterby
theAustralianHumanRightsCommission(AHRC).Ifyouthinkyouhavebeendiscriminatedagainstorharassedbecauseofyourdisabilityyoushouldcontactalawyerorcommunitylegalcentre.
The Disability Standards forEducation
DisabilityStandardshelpustounderstanddisabilitydiscriminationlawbetterbysettingoutindetailtherightsofapersonwithdisabilityasprotectedbytheDDA.ThereareDisabilityStandardsforparticularareasoflife,includingeducation.
TheDDAEducationStandardssetouttherightsofstudentswithdisabilityintheareaofeducation.Theyalsosetouttheobligationsthateducation
providers,suchasschoolsanduniversities,mustmeetinordertohelpstudentswithdisability.
ThemainaimoftheEducationStandardsistogivestudentswithdisabilitytherighttoparticipateineducationalprogramsonthesamebasisasstudentswithoutdisability.
Thismeanshavingaccesstothesameeducationalopportunitiesandchoicesas all otherstudents.
IfaneducationproviderdoesnotcarryoutitsobligationstoapersonwithdisabilityinlinewiththeEducationStandards,thatpersoncanmakeaformalcomplain to theAHRC.
Who is Protected Under the EducationStandards?
TheEducationStandardsprotectanypersonwithdisabilitywhoisenrolledinorwhohasapproachedaneducationprovideraboutenrollinginapre-school,school,college,university,TAFEoranyotherorganisationthateducatesortrainspeople.
TheStandardsalsoprotectanypersonwithdisabilityfromdiscriminationbyaneducationproviderevenifthatpersonhasleftorhasbeenexpelledbytheeducationprovider.
Who has Obligations Under theStandards?
TheEducationStandardscoverthefollowingeducationproviders:
•Preschools and kindergartens (but not childcarecentres)
•Public and privateschools
•Publiceducationandtrainingplaces,suchasTAFE
•Privateeducationandtrainingplaces,suchasprivatebusinesscolleges
•Universities
•Organisationsthatprepareorruntrainingandeducationprograms
What are theObligations?
TheEducationStandardsputthreemainobligationsoneducationproviders.
1.Obligation toconsult
2.Obligation to make reasonableadjustments
3.Obligation to eliminate harassment andvictimisation
When do the Education StandardsApply?
TheEducationStandardscoverallstagesofaperson’stimeatschoolorinaneducationortrainingcourse,fromthetimetheyapplytoenrolrightuptothetimetheyfinish.TheEducationStandardsmakeitagainstthelawto
discriminateagainstapersonbecauseoftheirdisabilityatanyofthefollowingpoints in the educationprocess:
•Whenaneducationproviderisdecidingwhatwillbetaughtinacourse
•Whenapersonisenrollinginschooloracourse
•Whileapersonistakingpartinschooloracourse
•Ifapersonrequiressupportservicestotakepartinschooloracourse
•When a person finishes school or acourse
•Ifapersonissuspendedorexpelledfromschooloracourse
•Ifapersonisharassedorvictimisedwhiletakingpartinschooloracourse
•Whenaneducationproviderisdecidingwhatwillbetaughtinacourse
Education providers must think about the needs of studentswithdisabilitywhentheyaredecidingwhatwillbeinacourseandhowtheywillteachit.Theyneedtothinkaboutthetypesofadjustmentsordifferentwaysofteachingthatcanhelpastudentwithdisabilitytoachievethemainaimsofacourse.
•Whenapersonisenrollinginschooloracourse
Studentswithdisabilityshouldbeabletoenrolinacourseoraschooljustlikeanyotherperson.Thisincludesrequestinginformationoraskingquestionsaboutenrolling.Todothistheyneedtobeabletoaccessallcourseorenrolmentinformation.
•Whileapersonistakingpartinschooloracourse
Thisincludesmakingsurethatstudentswithdisabilityhavethesameopportunities to participate in school or a course as otherstudents.Thismaymeanmakingadjustmentstohowthecourseistaught,whatmaterialsareused,andhowstudentswillbeassessed.
•Ifapersonrequiressupportservicestotakepartinschooloracourse
Educationprovidersmustmakesurethatstudentswithdisabilitycanaccessandusesupportservicesthatwillhelpthemparticipateatschoolor in an educationcourse.
•When a person finishes school or acourse
Educationprovidersmustmakesurethatstudentswithdisabilityreceivethesamerecognitionfortheirlearningandtrainingoutcomesasstudentswithoutdisability.
•Ifapersonissuspendedorexpelledfromschooloracourse
TheEducationStandardsapplytosituationswhereaneducationprovidermakesadecisiontoexpelorsuspendapersonfromschooloracoursebecauseoftheirdisability.Educationprovidersneedtobeverycarefulwhentheymakedecisionslikethis.Youoryourfamilyorasupportpersonshouldtalktoalawyerstraightawayifthishappenstoyou.
•Ifapersonisharassedorvictimisedwhiletakingpartinschooloracourse
TheEducationStandardssayeducationprovidersmustensurethatallstaffandstudentsareawarethattherearerulesagainstharassingorvictimisingastudentwithdisabilityortheirassociates.Harassmentandvictimisationofpeopleisillegalandeducationprovidersmusttakeallreasonablestepstopreventthishappening.
CASESTUDIES
Case StudyOne
Mary has Autism SpectrumDisorder. She needs an environment whichisstructured and where she knowswhatis going to happen in advance.Shedoesn’t always understand socialcues.Onedaywhenshearrivesinclass,theteacher announces there has beenachange in plan and the first part oftheclassisgoingtobeheldinthegym-theyarestudyingPhysicalEducation.Maryaccompaniestherestofherclasstothe
gym.Itisnoisy,peopleallaroundherareyellinginsupportoftheirteam.Intheendit is too much for Mary and sheleavesthe gym, throwing her books down-accidentally hitting anotherstudent’sfoot. Mary issuspended.
At a meeting held with Mary,heradvocate and the head of school,Maryexplainsthatduetoherdisability,shefinds it difficult to deal withunexpectedchanges, and loud noises. Maryalsoexplains that when things becometoomuch for her, she cannot alwaysdealwiththeminacalmmanner-thesameway others might. The head ofschoolpromisesthatinthefutureanychangestotheclassroutinewillbegiventoMarythe day before, so she canprepareherselfforwhatmighthappen,orevenarrangeforanalternativeactivity.
Case StudyTwo
Patrickhasanintellectualdisability. For a couple of months, a groupofboysathisschoolcalledhimnameslike ‘Idiot’ and ‘Dumbo’ in front ofhisclassandhisteacher.Theteacherignored what the boys weresaying.Patrick was very hurt by whattheboys were saying. He evenaskedthe teacher to help him out,but
the teacher said not to worryaboutit, and that it was a normal partofbeing at school. It was onlyafterPatrick’sparentshadameetingwiththe principal and the teacherthatthesituationwasfixed.Theteacherandprincipalagreedtodisciplinetheboys and to notify all studentsand
theirparentsabouttheseriousnessofbullying.Theyalsoagreedtoupdatetheirrulesonharassmentandbullyingand to put a copy up on theschoolnoticeboard.
EXCEPTIONS FOR EDUCATIONPROVIDERS
Whencananeducationproviderrefusetocarryouttheirobligationsunderthe EducationStandards?
SomekindsofdiscriminationareallowedbytheEducationStandardsbecausethelawallowssomeexceptions.Discriminationisallowedinthefollowingsituations:
•Whereaneducationprovidercannotcarryouttheirobligationbecauseitwouldbetoohard.Thismightbebecausecarryingouttheobligationwouldbeveryexpensiveorwouldcreateriskstopeople’ssafety.Thisexception is called ‘unjustifiablehardship’.
•Whereaneducationproviderhastodiscriminateagainstapersonwithdisability to protect the health and welfare of that person or otherpeople.
•‘SpecialMeasures’—Discriminationthathelpsorassistspeoplewithdisabilityisnotagainstthelaw.Thisissometimescalledpositivediscrimination.Forexample,aschoolthatgetsagrantforaprogram
specificallydesignedtohelpstudentswithanintellectualdisabilitywillnotbediscriminatingifitrefusestoprovidethesamefundingforapersonwitha physicaldisability.
•Whereacourtmakesanorderallowingdiscriminationorwherethereisanotherlawthatallowsdiscrimination.Therearenotverymanyoftheselaws.
The“exceptions”intheActneedstobebalancedwitheachperson’srightsundertheAct.Ifyouarebeingtoldbyaneducationproviderthatyoucannotreceivethesupportyouneedforanyofthereasonsabove,itmaybeworthspeakingwithalawyertoensurethatthereasonsgiventoyouareproperreasons.
CONSULTINGWITHYOUREDUCATIONPROVIDER
Whendecidingwhattoincludeinaneducationalcourseandhowtoteachit,aneducationprovidershouldconsultwitheachstudentwithdisabilitydoingthecourseandconsidertheirneeds.Thisconsultationshouldbeginasearlyas
possible.Itisimportantthatwherepossiblethestudentworkwiththeeducationprovidertofindadjustmentsandsolutionstohelpthestudentparticipate.Whenaneducationproviderandastudentwithdisabilityconsultoneanother,theyshouldtrytocoveratleastthesefourpoints:
1.Workoutwhatthechallenges,needsorbarriersareforthestudent.
2.Suggestadjustmentsthatcouldbemadebytheeducationproviderto deal with theseissues.
3.Discuss whether these adjustments arereasonable.
4.Asktheeducationprovidertoprovidealetteraboutwhatwasdiscussedandwhatdecisionsweremade.Asktheeducationprovidertogiveyouaspecificdatewhentheywillnotifyyouaboutwhat adjustments will or will not bemade.
CASESTUDY
Case StudyThree
Consultingandworkingtogethertofindadjustmentsandsolutionstohelpstudentsparticipate.
KateandherdaughterFionahavemovedtoacountrytown.Fionahasanintellectualdisabilityandsometimeshasdifficultbehaviour,likeyellingoutinclass.Thecountrytownhasonlyonepublicschool.WhenKatetellstheschoolaboutherdaughter’sdisabilitytheprincipalrefusestoacceptFiona’senrolmentasastudent.Katewritesalettertotheprincipaltellingherthatshethinks
thisisunfair,especiallywhentheprincipalwon’tprovidewrittenreasonsfortherefusal.KatesaysshewillbemakingacomplainttoAHRCiftheprincipal
doesn’tdosomethingaboutit.TheprincipalorganisesameetingwithKateandFiona.DuringthatmeetingtheydiscusssomeofthechallengesthatFiona’sdisabilitymightcreateintheclassroom.Theprincipalagreestohaveateacherwithspecialtrainingcomeandlookattheschoolandmakerecommendationsonhowthesechallengesmightbeovercomebyadjustments.
Aftertheserecommendations,KatesuggeststotheprincipalthatFionashouldbeallowedtocometoschoolonathree-monthtrialbasis.Theprincipalagrees.Inthefirstfewweekstherearemanyproblems,andFionaoftenrefusestostayinclass,especiallyinEnglish.AfteranothermeetingwithKateandFiona,theprincipalagreesthatateacher’saidecouldsitwithFionainherEnglishclasstoprovidesupport.
Withthehelpoftheteacher’saideFionaisfine.Gradually,thetimetheteacher’saidespendswithFionaislessandless,untiltheyonlyhavetomeetonceaweektotalkabouthowFionaisgoing.Fionaisacceptedasafull-timestudentat the end of the three-monthtrial.
GLOSSARY
Action Plan - A public statement made by an Education Provider tosaywhattheyaredoingtomakesuretheydonotdiscriminate.ActionPlansare
voluntary.AnEducationProviderwritesthemupandthengivesthemtoAHRCtobemadepublicthroughtheAHRCwebsite.AHRCreviewsandapprovestheActionPlanbeforeitispostedonthesite.
Adjustment - Action that is taken to help a student with disability take partinaneducationprogramonthesamebasisasotherstudents.AnAdjustmentisReasonableifitmeetstheneedsofthestudentwithdisabilitywithoutimpactingtoo much on the other peopleinvolved.
(See also ReasonableAdjustment.)
Associate - Someone who is closely connected with a person withdisability. Associatesmayincludefamilymembersandotherrelatives,carers,friendsandpeopleinabusinessrelationship.
AHRC-AustralianHumanRightsCommission.ThisorganisationhelpspeoplewithadisabilitywhentheymakeacomplaintaboutanEducationProviderthatisnotobeyingtheEducationStandards.
Disability Discrimination - A situation where a person is treated lessfavorablyorharassedbecauseoftheirdisabilityandwherenoExceptionapplies.
Disability Standards - Standards that explain in detail what rights areprotectedundertheDDAforpeoplewithdisability.
DDA-DisabilityDiscriminationAct1992(Commonwealth).TheDDAapplieseverywhereinAustraliaandislookedafterbytheAustralianHumanRightsCommission(AHRC).
Education Provider - Any organisation that educates or trainspeople.Examplesare:
•Pre-schools and kindergartens (but not childcarecentres)
•Public and privateschools
•Public education and training places, such as TAFEinstitutes
•Privateeducationandtrainingplaces,suchasprivatebusinesscolleges
•Universities
•Organisationsthatprepareorruntrainingandeducationprograms
EducationStandards-StandardsthatsetouttheRightsofstudentswithdisabilityundertheDDAintheareaofeducation.TheyalsosetouttheObligationsoftheEducationProviderssuchasschoolsanduniversitiesundertheDDAtoassiststudentswithdisabilityintheareaofeducation.
Exceptions-SituationswhereanEducationProvidercandiscriminateagainstastudentwithdisabilitywithoutbreakingthelaw.ExceptionsincludedintheEducationStandardsare:
•Unjustifiablehardship
•Protection of publichealth
•Court orders or acts done under speciallaws
•Specialmeasures
Harassment-Abusing,bullyingorteasingsomeonebecausetheyhaveadisabilityinawaythatmakesthatpersonupset,unhappyorscared.
Measures for Compliance - Things that Education Providers could dowhentryingtomeettheirObligations.Theyarenotlegalrequirements.AnEducationProvidermaybeabletomeetitsobligationsinanumberofdifferentwaysthatarenotnecessarilylistedintheMeasuresforCompliance.
Obligations -Things that Education Providers must do to respect therights ofstudentswithdisability.Theyarelegalrequirementsanddisobeyingthemisagainstthelaw,unlessanExceptionapplies.
PrescribedLaws-Speciallawsthatallowdiscrimination.Thegovernmenthastoidentifytheselawsandmakethempublic.Currentlythereareonlyasmallnumber of suchlaws.
Reasonable Adjustments - An Adjustment is reasonable if it meets theneedsof the student with disability without impacting too much on otherpeople.
TodetermineifanAdjustmentisReasonable,anEducationProvidermustconsider:
•Thebarriers,needsorchallengesthatfaceastudentwithdisability
•The views of the student or theirAssociate
•WhetheranAdjustmentwillimpactontheacademicstandardsorrequirements of thecourse
•WhatadvantagesordisadvantagestheAdjustmentsmaycreateforthepeople affected byit
•The costs of making theAdjustment
Rights-WhatastudentwithdisabilitycanexpectfromanEducationProvider. ThemostimportantRightisthatastudentwithdisabilityhastheopportunitytoparticipateineducationonthesamebasisasstudentswithoutdisability.
Special Measures -Actions or services taken to assist or help peoplewithadisability.Theseserviceswillusuallyonlybeavailabletopeoplewitha
disabilityandnootherpeople.SpecialMeasuresaresometimescalledpositivediscrimination.
Unjustifiable Hardship - An Exception that allows an Education ProvidertorefusetomakeanAdjustmentbecausethecostinvolvedandtheimpactontheEducationProviderandotherpeoplewouldbetoogreat.TheEducationProvidermustprovethatanAdjustmentwouldcauseitUnjustifiableHardship.Todothis,theEducationProvidermustlookat:
•ThebenefitsordisadvantagesthatwouldresultfrommakingtheReasonableAdjustment
•The effect of the disability of the student inquestion
•ItsownfinancialpositionandthecostsofmakingtheReasonableAdjustment
Victimisation-ThreateningorhurtingsomeonebecausetheyarethinkingaboutmakingaDisabilityDiscriminationcomplaintoriftheyhavealreadymadeone.Victimisationisacrime.
LEGALANDADVOCACYSERVICES
Australian Human RightsCommission(AHRC)
Phone: 1300 656419
TTY: 1800 620241
Email:
AUSTRALIAN CAPITALTERRITORY
WelfareRightsandLegalCentre(Disability Discrimination LegalService)
Phone: (02) 62472177
TTY: (02) 62472018
Email: Box337
CIVICSQUAREACT2608
NEW SOUTHWALES
NSW Disability DiscriminationLegalCentreInc
Phone: (02) 93107722
Toll free: 1800 800 708 Tollfree
TTY: 1800 644409
Email:bsite: Box989
STRAWBERRYHILLSNSW2012
Kingsford LegalCentre
Phone: (02) 93859566
TTY: (02) 93859572
Email:
LawBuildingUniversityofNSWNSW2052
IntellectualDisabilityRightsService(IDRS)
Phone: (02) 93180144
Toll free: 1800 666611 Email:2C/199 RegentStreetREDFERNNSW2016
NORTHERNTERRITORY
Darwin Community LegalService
Phone: 08 89821111
Fax: 08 89821112
Email:O Box3180
DARWIN NT0801
Disability AdvocacyService
Phone: (08) 89531422
Email: Box826
ALICESPRINGSNT0871
QUEENSLAND
Cairns Community LegalCentre
Phone: (07) 40317688
TTY: (07) 40317688
Toll free: 1800 650197
PO Box7129
CAIRNS QLD4870
Welfare RightsCentre
Phone: (07) 38475532
Fax: (07) 34212500
TTY: (07) 38475533
PO Box97
STONESCORNERQLD4120
SOUTHAUSTRALIA
Disability Advocacy andComplaintsService SA(DACSSA)
Phone: (08) 82973500
Fax: (08) 82971155
TTY: (08) 82974144
Toll Free: 1800 088325
470 MarionRd
PLYMPTONPARKSA5038
Riverland AdvocacyService
Ph: (08) 85822422
Fax: (08) 85822411
2a Ahern StBERRI SA5343
South East DisabilityAdvocacyService(SEDAS)
Ph: (08) 82736002
Fax: (08) 87258009
71 Sutton TownRd
MOUNTGAMBIERSA5290
TASMANIA
Launceston Community Legal Centre
Phone: (03) 63341577
TTY: (03) 63341949
Toll Free: 1800 066019
PO Box1582
LAUNCESTONTAS7250
VICTORIA
DisabilityDiscriminationLegalServiceInc.
TTY: (03) 96546817
Fax: (03) 96397422
Toll free: 1300 882872 Email:bsite:
2nd Floor 247 – 251 FlindersLaneMELBOURNEVIC3000
Villamanta Disability RightsLegalServiceInc.
Phone: (03) 52292925
Toll free: 1800 014111
Email:44 BellarineStreet
GEELONGVIC3220
WESTERNAUSTRALIA
Sussex Street Legal Centre(WA)
Phone: (08) 62539500
Fax: (08) 94701805
Email:cked Bag2
EASTVICPARKWA6981
MAKINGACOMPLAINTTOTHEAUSTRALIANHUMANRIGHTSCOMMISSION(AHRC)
IfapersonwithadisabilityoranAssociateofapersonwithdisabilityfeelsthattheyhavebeendiscriminatedagainstbecauseoftheirdisability,theycanmakeacomplainttotheAustralianHumanRightsCommission(AHRC).Belowisabrief description of the complaintprocess.
SEEKINFORMATIONANDASSISTANCE
ManycomplaintsbeginwithatelephonecalltoAHRC.ThefirsttelephoneconversationwillusuallyhelpclarifywhetherornotacomplaintiscoveredbytheDDA.Ifitiscovered,informationwillbegivenaboutthenextstepto
take.Otherorganisationsthatmaygivemoreinformationandassistancewithcomplaintsarelistedinthisbooklet.
PUTTHECOMPLAINTINWRITING
Ifyoudecidetomakeaformalcomplaint,youneedtoputyourcomplaintinwriting.AHRChascomplaintformsthatcanbefilledin,whichcanbepostedout to you, if youwish.
Alternatively,thecomplaintcanbemadeinaletter.Afriendorsupport personcanhelpwithshouldprovidecontactdetailsforallparties,reportwhathappened,whowasinvolvedand,wherepossible,yourpreferredoutcometothecomplaint.Itisagoodidea,too,tolistallthepeopleororganisationsthathavebeencontactedaboutthecomplaintandtoattachcopiesofanylettersyou’vesentorreceivedsofar.AHRC’scomplainthandlingprocessisfree.
ASSESSINGTHECOMPLAINT
Uponreceivingthewrittencomplaint,AHRCwilldetermineifthecircumstancesofthecomplaintarecoveredbythelaw.Iftheybelievethattheyarenotortheyfallundersomeotherareaoflaw,AHRCwillletyouknowthattheycan’tacceptthecomplaint.Sometimes,AHRCmayaskyoutogivethemmoreinformationaboutthecircumstancesofthecomplainttohelpthemmaketheirassessment.Normally,AHRCwillnotconsidercomplaintsthathavebeenlodgedover12monthsafterthetimethediscriminationhappenedunlesstherearespecialcircumstances.Becauseofthis,it’simportanttoenquireaboutthecomplaint
processassoonasyoucanafteranactofdiscriminationhappens.
DEALINGWITHTHECOMPLAINT
GenerallytheprocessfollowedbyAHRCisasfollows:
•AHRCwillcontactthepersonororganisationcomplainedabouttogettheirversionofeventsandaskthemsomequestionsaboutwhathappened.Thepersonororganisationwillprovideawrittenresponse,settingthingsoutastheyseethem.UsuallyAHRCwillthenaskthe
personwhohasmadethecomplaintiftheywouldliketoprovidesomewrittencommentsaboutthatresponse.
•AHRCwillorganiseconciliationbetweenthepersonmakingthecomplaintandthepersonororganisationtheyhavecomplainedabout.Conciliationaimstohelpthepartiesagreeonwhatshouldhappentoresolvethecomplaint.Allpartiesneedtoberealisticabouttheoutcomeandbepreparedtocompromiseattimes.Conciliationisfree,andlawyers
donotneedtobeinvolved. It’s oftengood,though,totakeasupportpersonsuchasafamilymemberorfriendwithyoutotheconciliation.Theconciliationisrunbytrainedconciliators,whodon’ttakesidesinthecomplaintandcannotmakeordersorgivejudgments.
•Sometimesconciliationdoesnotwork,andthereisnoagreedoutcomebetweentheparties.Whenthathappens,thepersonmakingthecomplainthastheoptiontotakethecomplainttocourt.However,thisisaverybigstep,andanyonethinkingaboutgoingdownthispathshouldtalkto a lawyerfirst.
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTSCOMMISSION
TheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionisanindependentthirdpartywhichinvestigates complaints about discrimination and breaches of humanrightsFor more information on the complaints process contactthe
AustralianHumanRightsCommission
1300 656419
TTY: 1800 620241
Email:
USEFULLINKS
AustralianDisabilityClearinghouseonEducationandTraining(ADCET)
ADCETaimstopromoteandcontributetoinclusiveteachingandsupportpracticeswithinthepost-secondaryeducationsectorinordertofacilitatesuccessfuloutcomesandimprovetheeducationalexperiencesofstudentswithdisability.
DisabilityStandardsforEducation:APracticalGuideforIndividuals,FamiliesandCommunities
ThisresourceaimstoincreaseawarenessandunderstandingoftheDisabilityStandardsforEducationamongindividuals,familiesandcommunitiesthroughoutAustralia.Thisisageneralresourceabouttherightsofstudentswithdisabilityandhowschoolscanworkwithstudentsandtheirfamiliestosupportthem.
NationalDisabilityCoordinationOfficerProgram(NDCO)
TheAustralianGovernment’sNationalDisabilityCoordinationOfficer(NDCO)Programworksstrategicallytoassistpeoplewithdisabilityaccessandparticipateintertiaryeducationandsubsequentemployment,throughanationalnetworkofregionallybasedNDCOs.YourregionalNDCOmaybeabletoassistyouwithenquiriesrelatedingoodpracticeandtrainingineducationalinclusion.
TofindyourregionalNDCOgoto:
How do I find anNDCO?
Therearecurrently31NDCOregionsthroughoutAustralia.For more information about the NDCO Program, or tolocateyour local officer, please contact usat:
Telephone: 133873
Email: