ADCQ Annual Report 2007–08

Reports from the regions - Central Queensland Region

• Community Relations
• Training and education
• Complaint handling

Community Relations

This year, staff in Central Queensland worked with a range of groups, focussing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, disability support and lesbian and gay support groups. Getting out into the community is an important beginning to building mutual trust and respect, so that people feel confi dent to make or respond to complaints.

The Commission also responded to stories making local headlines and radio chat shows by providing advice on policy and legislation to the print and electronic media. This was through media releases, letters to the editor, radio interviews and an article for an online magazine. In an electronic, instant news age, this has proven an effective way of delivering our message.

Training and Education

Central Queensland regional staff have successfully satisfied increasing demand for training. The local coal mining companies are keen to provide training for contact officers on each of their mine sites. Also, we have trained small businesses in the construction and agricultural areas.

Commission educators are in demand to provide training to community groups, such as youth support groups and carers' associations, for both their staff and volunteers. These free awareness sessions are an important aspect of our long-term strategy to foster the cultural changes that improve people's lives.

Creating and sustaining links with all sectors in our diverse community means that education and training can work both ways. As relationships have been developed with local organisations, Commission staff have also been learning how to fi ne tune our processes to better serve different sectors of the community. For instance, this year the Commission provided training to Lifeline on anti-discrimination law in Rockhampton and Lifeline provided training to Commission staff on understanding and managing clients with mental illness.

Complaint Handling

Complaint handling continues to be a major part of regional activities. The majority of complaints (77%) were in the area of work, with 10 % relating to accommodation, and another 10% to provision of goods and services. 54% of the complainants dealt with in Central Queensland were resolved by conciliation.

One-quarter of complaints related to impairment, a proportion that has been consistent for the last three years. The other major grounds for complaint were sexual harassment and sex discrimination at 16% and 15%, a rise of 5% over three years. Ten per cent of complaints were about discrimination because of family responsibilities, with sexuality, pregnancy and race comprising the remainder.

Accepted complaints (by ground) 2007-08 Central Queensland

Accepted complaints (by area) 2007-08 Central Queensland

Main grounds for accepted complaints Central Queensland

Back to Table of Contents for 2007-2008 ADCQ Annual Report