Complaints Information

Complaints information and procedures

This page provides general information about making a complaint to the ADCQ and the complaint process.

Can the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland help me?
What can the Anti-Discrimination Commission do?
Is there a time limit?
How do I complain?
Not sure if the Commission can help? / Need help with this form?
What will the Commission do with my complaint?
If the Commission accepts my complaint, what happens?

If your complaint falls outside ADCQ's scope, you may like to refer to the It's OK to complain website which provides information about other Queensland independent accountability agencies as well as other complaints agencies.

Further information and forms

Making a Complaint brochure
Responding to a Complaint brochure
Flowchart of complaint handling process
All about Conciliation Conferences
Video Working it through : a guide to the ADCQ conciliation conference may be viewed here.Viewing time is 6 minutes.
You can download the Complaint Form (512 KB)

To request forms by post or fax, or to speak with us about making a complaint, contact ADCQ on 1300 130 670 or TTY 1300 130 680.

Can the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland help me?

The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland can help you if you've been treated unfairly because:

of your sex;
of your relationship status;
you are, were or seeking to become pregnant;
of your parental status;
of your age;
of your lawful sexual activity;
of your impairment;
of your religious belief or religious activity;
of your political belief or activity;
of your trade union activity;
you are/were breastfeeding;
of your race;
of your gender identity
of your sexuality
of your family responsibilities
of your association with someone on the basis of any of the above grounds;
you have been victimised because of your involvement in a complaint which has been or will be made to the Commission.

The Commission can only help you if the treatment you are complaining about happened in certain areas of public life. These areas are:

employment;
goods and services;
education;
accommodation;
superannuation and insurance;
disposal of land;
club membership and affairs;
local government;
administration of State laws and programs

The Commission can also help if you have been:

sexually harassed (sexual harassment is unlawful everywhere and does not need an area); or
vilified in public because of your race, religion, gender identity or sexuality.

"Vilification" is a public act which incites others to hate, to have serious contempt of or to severely ridicule individuals or groups because of their race, religion, gender identity or sexuality. You, or an organisation representing your interests, can make a complaint.

What can the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland do?

The Commission can:

investigate complaints about these things;
help you and the other side find a way of solving the problem.

The Commission can't

take sides;
decide whether discrimination happened or not.

If the Commission can't help you solve the problem, you might be able to take your complaint to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal , which can make a decision like a court.

Is there a time limit?

The Commission can only help you if the discrimination happened in the past 12 months. If it happened more than 12 months ago you need to have good reasons for not complaining until now.

Please note: The racial and religious vilification provisions came into force on 7 June 2001, and the Commission can only accept complaints on these grounds that have occurred after this date.The gender identity and sexuality vilification provisions came into force on 31 March 2003, and the Commission can only accept complaints on these grounds that have occurred after this date.

How do I complain?

You need to complain in writing, or if you prefer, on tape. The complaint can be in any language. Contact the Translating and Interpreting Service for help. If you can't sort out the problem yourself then you can fill out the Complaint Form (512 KB) or you can write us a letter with the information that we ask for in the form. Send the form or your letter to the address on the front of the form.

Not sure if the Anti-Discrimination Commission can help?
Need help with this form?

Please telephone or call into one of our offices and ask to speak to an Enquiry Officer. They can give you information about your complaint and suggest ways to solve the problem yourself. Our telephone and TTY numbers are given below. If you prefer to speak in your first language you can call us through the Telephone Interpreter Service.

What will the Anti-Discrimination Commission do with my complaint?

We will assess the complaint and decide if it comes under the Act. We will not talk to whoever you are complaining about until we have contacted you. We will also contact you to get any other information we need, explain what we can and can't do and discuss the best way of handling your complaint.

If the Anti-Discrimination Commission accepts my complaint, what happens?

A conciliator, who is a member of staff, will manage your case and will contact all parties to the complaint. Their role is to provide a fair process to all parties, and to help resolve the complaint through conciliation. Conciliation is an informal and private process. You may bring a support person or legal adviser to a conciliation conference.

This information is intended as a guide only. It is not a substitute for legal advice. For more information contact the Commission on 1300 130 670 statewide or Teletypewriter 1300 130 680 statewide.