Equal Opportunity Commission

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News

Private rental housing inquiry
(July 8, 2008)

The Commission has commenced an investigation to find out whether persons from minority racial
groups (in particular Aboriginal and ethnic minority people) experience discrimination (direct or indirect)
on the basis of their race in the private rental housing market.

Submissions are invited from individuals and organisations and briefings will be held both for community
workers, and real restate industry representatives. For information about the Terms of Reference,
submissions and briefings. Click here.

Call for stories - work and disability
(April 14, 2008)

Do you have a disability? Do you have a story about how you got your job? We want to hear about how you and your employer found solutions to make working work for you. Were changes made to the way the job is done? Were changes made to the workplace environment? Were changes made to the facilities provided by the employer? or Maybe no changes were needed at all, just an appreciation of your skills and experience by your employer. If you have a disability and are willing to share your experience with others, we want to hear from you. The Equal Opportunity Commission will soon produce a publication designed to encourage employers to consider employing more people with disabilities. The publication will include stories from a range of people in a wide range of jobs, telling of their experience in gaining and holding their employment. Highlighting the diversity of positions that can be filled by people with a disability, the publication will also highlight the often relatively minor adjustments the employer needed to make in order to accommodate those employees with disabilities. Click here to submit your story via email (to eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au) or use one of the following other methods: Post: PO Box 7370 Cloisters Square Perth 6850 Fax: (08) 9216 3960 Phone: (08) 9216 3900 TTY: (08) 9216 3936 Country Callers: 1800 198 149 Stories can also be sent to us on audio cassette, and arrangements can be made to record oral submissions over the telephone. Interpreters can be arranged upon request.

EOC's 2008 Calendar now available
(December 7, 2007)

The Equal Opportunity Commission’s 2008 Calendar is now available. The calendar's heading is Know your Rights! and this message is repeated in the Kriol, Walmajarri, Yindjibarndi and Kariyarra languages. As in past years the border and background graphics were inspired by the Kimberley, with the handprint being the Nyungar sign for Listen! The calendar highlights dates for the school holidays, National Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and the International Day of the World's Indigenous People. You can download a copy from here or request a free copy by phoning Ann-Marie on (08) 9216 3900 or e-mailing us at eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au. Please include your contact number and postal address.

2008 EOC Training Calendar available
(December 6, 2007)

Training programs are provided on a regular basis throughout the year. These courses are open to anyone to apply and provide networking opportunities across organisations and industries. Here is a list of courses available for the first half of 2008, with information on how to register.

Unfair dismissal
(November 16, 2007)

An information brochure on discrimination and unfair dismissal was recently released by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson and Fair Employment Advocate Helen Creed, and can be downloaded here. One half of the brochure explains what rights you have under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 if you have been dismissed as a result of unlawful discrimination. The other half explains if your dismissal was unlawful, what remedies you may have and outlines the differences between the State and Federal IR systems.

Pregnant and Working
(August 23, 2007)

Commissioner Yvonne Henderson launched a publication titled ‘Pregnant and Working’ at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Child Care Centre on August 23, 2007,

The publication is an easy to read guide to what employers and employees need to know about pregnancy and employment.

It outlines what is pregnancy discrimination and discusses a range of related issues, including discrimination at various stages of the employment relationship, from recruitment through to parental leave and returning to work.

‘Pregnant and Working’ can be downloaded from here, or ring the Commission on (08) 9216 3900 to request a copy.

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 Review
(May 24, 2007)
EOC's 2007 Training Calendar July-December now available
(May 24, 2007)
Housing investigation update no. 3
(March 6, 2007)
Recruitment Guide
(February 28, 2007)
International Women's Day breakfast - Thursday March 08, 2007
(February 1, 2007)
EOC's 2007 Calendar now available
(December 19, 2006)
How to deal with bullying at work

The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health Western Australia has released two publications
on bullying in the workplace. One is a Guidance Note on how to deal with bullying at work, and the
second is a Code of Practice on the prevention and management of workplace bullying.

The Code of Practice for prevention and management: violence, aggression and bullying at work
can be accessed via http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/Guidance_notes/;
and the Guidance Note: dealing with bullying at work can be accessed via

http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/Guidance_notes/WSguidance-bullying_in_english.pdf

The Equal Opportunity Commission has translated the Guidance Note into Traditional Chinese and
Bahasa Malay and they can be also be accessed via the Commission’s Community languages section.

Aboriginal housing - joint statement by Department of Housing and Works
& Equal Opportunity Commission (June 23, 2006)

Preparing your Implementation Plan for Substantive Equality: A Summary Guide
(June 14, 2006)

New conciliation process will streamline complaints
(May 3, 2006)

Equal Opportunity Act review
(March 29, 2006)

The Commissioner for Equal Opportunity has announced that the Act will be reviewed comprehensively.
Submissions are sought from interested parties and close on May 31, 2006. See here for more
information.

Reference Guide 2006 now available
(February 8, 2006)

Premier announces Substantive Equality for government job ads
(October 27, 2005)
Housing Investigation Update
(September 6, 2005)
Play by the Rules comes to WA
(July 21, 2005)
Launch of EOC's new website
(July 1, 2005)
Pay Equity Unit to be established
(April 29, 2005)
Substantive Equality program – eliminating racism in the public sector
(March 30, 2005)
Finding a place – housing report released
(December 15, 2004)
Racial vilification consultation paper
(September 2, 2004)

Recruitment Guide
(February 28, 2007)

The 2007 recruitment guide is a plain English guide for employers and those working in the recruitment industry in Western Australia. The 32-page booklet is titled “Are you getting it right?” and will help people plan ahead and prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The guide contains useful hints and case studies, plus examines grounds of unlawful discrimination and harassment in employment under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. It also provides ten steps to best practice recruiting in Western Australia and information on how to contact the Commission.
The 2007 recruitment guide can be downloaded from here or you can request a copy by ringing the Commission on 08 9216 3900 or emailing eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au.

EOC's 2007 Calendar now available
(December 19, 2006)

The Equal Opportunity Commission’s 2007 Calendar is now available. The calendar is titled “You don’t have to put up with Discrimination” and the border and background graphics were inspired by the Kimberley, with the handprint being the Nyungar sign for ‘Listen!’ The calendar highlights dates for the school holidays, National Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
You can download a copy from here or request a free copy by phoning Ann-Marie on (08) 9216 3900 or e-mailing us at eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au. Please include your contact number and postal address.

2007 EOC Training Calendar available
(May 24, 2006)

Training programs are provided on a regular basis throughout the year. These courses are open to anyone to apply and provide networking opportunities across organisations and industries. Here is a list of courses available for the second half of 2007, with information on how to register.

Premier announces Substantive Equality for government job ads
(October 27, 2005)

As part of communicating vacancies through ‘Jobs on-line’ the Department of the Premier and Cabinet has
advised all State government departments that a field has been created in the advertising system to include
a Substantive Equality statement in in their Job Description Forms and job advertisements.

Please direct any enquiries to the Substantive Equality Unit at the Equal Opportunity Commission on 9216 3909.
For more details.

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Housing Investigation Update
(September 6, 2005)

THE Equal Opportunity Commission’s housing investigation report titled Finding a Place, plus an
accompanying video and DVD, was released on December 15, 2004.

The report contained 165 recommendations.

The report was launched at the Commission and was attended by more than 100 community and government
representatives, and attracted intense interest and coverage from national and statewide media.

One of the report’s key recommendations was for a broadly-based Implementation and Monitoring Group to be
established, with its first priority being to produce a program for the implementation, monitoring and review
of recommendations contained within the report. It was recommended this group include representation from
the Department of Housing and Works as well as community advocacy groups and other relevant Government
departments. Find out more.

Play by the Rules comes to WA
(July 21, 2005)

Fair play and safe play is the aim of the interactive website Play by the Rules which will have its Western
Australian launch on Friday July 29.

Play by the Rules is a unique, free and interactive website that encourages fair and safe play in all sporting fields,
across all age groups, by providing a best practice suite of products to help prevent and deal with discrimination,
harassment and child abuse.

The Equal Opportunity Commission is co-hosting the launch of the re-vamped and updated website with the
Department of Sport and Recreation.

Play by the Rules was first released in 2001 as a joint initiative of the South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission,
the South Australian Office of Sport and Recreation and the Australian Sports Commission. Since 2004 all State/Territory
anti-discrimination agencies and Departments of Sport and Recreation have become formal partners of the Play by
the Rules website and it has become an integral tool in the Australian Sports Commission’s harassment-free
sports strategy.

The Play by the Rules website currently attracts about 6000 users per day who visit the site for an average of
12 minutes and last year the website attracted 1,700,000 ‘hits’.

Friday's launch will be addressed by the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Bob Kucera and Yvonne Henderson,
WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner. Play by the Rules national co-ordinator Mary Duncan will hold a half-hour
website workshop following the official launch.

Launch of EOC's new website
(July 1, 2005)

The Equal Opportunity Commission has recently undertaken a review of its website and online services.

The launch of our new EOC website with clearer and simpler navigation will help you to find the information
you need, from making and handling of complaints, training courses, to details of the Equal Opportunity Act.

If you have any comments about our new website or have any ideas of what you would like to see please contact us.

Pay Equity Unit
(April 29, 2005)

EOC Commissioner Yvonne Henderson welcomed the announcement today of the establishment of a Pay
Equity Unit to implement the recommendations of the Gender Gap Review.

The Commission participated in the Review which showed that Western Australian women earned, on average,
$275 per week less than men.

The Review recommended that a Pay Equity Unit be set up to implement a range of initiatives, including
amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, pay audits and research to support key stakeholders such as
union and employer groups to reduce the pay gap.

Click here for a copy of the Gender Pay Gap Review

Click here to see the Media Release by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection.

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Substantive Equality program
(March 30, 2005)

The State Government has embarked on a program of reform to address systemic racism. The Anti-Racism
and Equality Program is designed to ensure that all people have access to a public service that best meets
the different needs of WA’s diverse community. This model of service provision is based on substantive
equality. The Policy Framework for Substantive Equality is an expression of the principles espoused in
the Western Australian Charter of Multiculturalism.
To support the implementation of the whole of government Policy Framework for Substantive Equality,
the Equal Opportunity Commission will be providing assistance to the public sector through a newly
established Substantive Equality Unit.

The Substantive Equality Unit will provide presentations, briefing sessions and specialist workshops for
all staff who will have a key role in implementing the Policy.

To find out more click here.

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Finding a Place
(December 15, 2004)

After a 2 year investigation, the Equal Opportunity Commission has released its report into the Existence
of discriminatory practices in relation to the provision of public housing and related service to Aboriginal
people in Western Australia. The investigation heard submissions from over 500 individuals, government
departments and community organisations in metropolitan and regional WA.

The Report recommends a wide range of reforms to the policies and practices of the Department of
Housing and Works to addresses concerns raised in the submissions. A copy of Finding a Place can be
viewed here. or you can contact us to request a copy.

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Racial vilification consultation paper

On 5 August 2004, the then Premier Dr Gallop announced reforms as part of the State Government's
commitment to implement legal and practical strategies to address racism.
A "Racial and Religious Vilification Consultation Paper", August 2004 has been developed as Government
is keen to get community feedback on this issue. The Premier said that it was important for the community
to provide feedback on the legislative options to ensure that the option most suitable to the needs of
Western Australians is incorporated in legislation.

To download the paper in different formats: pdf size: 0.98 mb, pdf size: 520 kb (short version) or
word size: 124 kb. (Refer to submission deadline extension below).

A copy of the paper can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Multicultural Interests
(telephone 9222 8800) or downloading it from the their website.

Events

Human Rights Day 2008, December 10
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - 60th anniversary

‘Women working for dignity and justice for all’

Guest speakers:

June Oscar:

June is a prominent Indigenous leader in Fitzroy Crossing and is at the forefront of tackling the alcohol problems facing the community. She is the head of the Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre and chairwoman of the Kimberley Language Resource Centre.

The Right Reverend Kay Goldsworthy:

In 1992 Kay was ordained as one of Australia’s first female priests. In 2007 she began work at the Perth Diocesan Office as the Archdeacon of Perth and Registrar of the Diocese and this year became the first woman consecrated as a bishop in Australia.

Venue: Grand River Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel, 207 Adelaide Terrace, Perth

Attended by 160 people. Event details.

NAIDOC - celebrating 50 years
(July 6, 2007)

The EOC is joining NAIDOC Week this year at the Family Day organised by Derbarl Yerrigan
Health Service, Healthway and the Town of Bassendean who have come together for a day
of history and traditional fun for the whole family.

It's on Thursday, July 12 from 10 am - 3 pm. For more information: Family Day
(http://www.naidocperth.org/pdf/familyday.pdf ) and see what else is happening in Perth
at NAIDOC Perth (http://www.naidocperth.org/naidocpe.htm).