ADCQ Annual Report 2004-05
Community Relations
Goal: to provide accessible, inclusive educational activities
and community liaison
Photo : courtesy
David Hopgood
Strategies
–develop new innovative training, education and information
services which target client and stakeholder needs
– increase the level of community liaison by staff
– undertake research and project activities in human rights
to identify service gaps and unrepresented groups
– establish formal and regular liaison mechanisms with other
complaint agencies
– establish community networks to assist identify potential
service delivery gaps, improvements and successes.
Overview
Community relations is a broad term for the non-complaint work
carried out by the Commission. Our work includes project management,
training delivery, publications development and distribution,
community liaison, Indigenous outreach, website management, policy
advice provision, community advisory committee organisation and
support and other specific tasks and functions.
Work is carried out statewide by both regional staff and a Brisbane-based
team of four. This year was a good one in terms of both meeting
ongoing goals, and setting new objectives for ourselves.
Highlights included:
– delivery of 218 training sessions throughout Queensland
to almost 5000 people
– consolidation of the structure and operation of five advisory
committees
– the launch of one of three new visual resources produced
during the year
– progress with the CHEER (Complaints on Health and Employment
- Equity and Rights) Project
– development of a new visual identity for the Commission
– the inaugural Mabo Oration
Resource launch
Early in the year, the Commission launched its latest resource
to assist people who are involved in a complaint. Working
it Through (in DVD, CD or video format) focuses on the
complaint process, and in particular the conciliation conference.
In six minutes, viewers visually walk through the process, get
tips on how to prepare for the conference and how to negotiate
an outcome. The resource was launched by the Minister for Justice
and Attorney-General, Rod Welford, the General Secretary of Queensland
Council of Unions, Grace Grace, and Susan Booth, Anti- Discrimination
Commission Commissioner.
All praised the production and encouraged anyone involved in
a complaint to take six minutes to have a look at how conferences
operate, and how to get the best from them.
Copies of the resource are being offered to all parties in a
complaint, and feedback so far indicates it’s a valuable,
cost-effective and timely resource in the complaint process.
Fair Go is a ten minute video/CD/DVD
explaining the Anti-Discrimination Act, and how it works. It uses
a series of six 'snapshot' scenarios within a larger disability
case study to explore coverage of the Act, lodgement of a complaint,
the conciliation conference, and possible outcomes.
As training commitments have grown over the years, we’ve
relied on commercially produced visual resources to 'get the
message across'. For some time however, it’s been apparent
that Commissions and trainers in particular are in the best position
to develop the most useful resource. This video/DVD incorporates
fifteen brief scenarios covering grounds under the Act, the work
of Contact Officers and issues which might not be discrimination
or vilification. One of the strengths of the resource is the inclusion
of subtle examples of inappropriate behaviour, situations which
may, depending on individual circumstances, breach the legislation.
The CHEER (Complaints on Health and Employment
- Equity and Rights) Project
This Commission partnered with the Health Rights Commission and
the Multicultural Development Association to develop a project
to raise awareness of, and improve access to our complaints processes.
The successful submission sought funds to employ a project officer
to work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds in an advocacy, awareness-raising and training role.
A project officer, appointed halfway through the year, has been
working with communities and Commission staff in several ways.
Contact has been made with various communities to explain the
role of Commissions (and in particular, how the complaints
process works), advocacy services have been offered to those with
a grievance, and training resources are being developed for workers
in agencies dealing with communities.
It’s hoped that by providing this training and resources
to people, the project will have a lasting effect within culturally
and linguistically diverse communities.
'Re-branding' the Commission
A major undertaking this year has been the 're-branding'
of the Commission. Work on the project began some time ago, to
review our publications and introduce more consistency in content
and presentation. Since then, we’ve engaged a design firm
to develop a new 'visual identity', which will then be
incorporated into everything produced by the Commission. Work
on the design has almost been completed - work on the new content
for our identity is about to start.
Indigenous Unit
The Unit was formally established and launched in November 2003.
Staff established a range of priorities to ensure Indigenous issues
stay on the human rights agenda. This year, achievements included:
–providing advice, and contributing to the organisation of
the Mabo Oration
–assisting in writing the guidelines on 'identified positions'
being developed by the Office of Public Service Merit and Equity
–lodging a submission on the issue of 'move on' powers,
to the Townsville City Council
–visiting Indigenous communities throughout Queensland, including
Palm Island, Cairns, Yarrabah, Old Mapoon and Weipa
–participating in significant Indigenous events such as Reconciliation
Week, National Day of Healing,1967 Referendum Remembrance Day
and NAIDOC Week
–conducting training and information sessions in Indigenous
communities
–participating in a range of committees and advisory groups
and attending regular community relations meetings
–providing support and advice to the Commission and staff
on Indigenous issues involved in complaints, cross-cultural training
and current issues
–contributing to the 'Women in Prison' review being
conducted by the Commission.
Combined Commissions project
This project has been ongoing for close to two years now. This
Commission, the Health Rights Commission, the Crime and Misconduct
Commission, the Ombudsman and the Commission for Children and
Young People and Child Guardian have been meeting, both at Commissioner
and officer level, to develop and implement a range of strategies
designed to make access to our complaints processes more accessible
to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The project theme is 'It’s OK to complain', and
a number of resources have been developed on the issue. So far,
initiatives have included: – development of a brochure in
eleven community languages
– community service announcements and interviews with a local
radio station
– a joint presence at the inaugural multicultural festival
– consultation with a community reference group
– engaging with individual communities to raise awareness
of and access to the complaints process.
The group is currently producing a poster for distribution to
community groups and agencies working within CALD communities,and
is planning a joint presence at the second multicultural festival
to be held in October.
Community Advisory committees
The committees are the cornerstone of community engagement for
the Commission. Five advisory committees were established last
year. The committees aim to consult in a timely and meaningful
way on issues of discrimination and human rights.
The committees are:
- Disability Advisory Committee
- Youth Advisory Committee
- Unions Advisory Committee
- Advocates and Employer Organisations Advisory Committee
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Advisory
Committee
One issue nominated by the LGBTI Committee resulted in the organisation
of a half day forum called Voices at Work
: Sexuality and Gender Identity Discrimination in the Workplace.
The forum was supported by the state Department of Industrial
Relations, and targeted human resource practitioners in the public
and private sector, as well as organisations and individuals within
the sector.
Approximately 100 people attended the forum to hear about and
discuss issues of legislative progress in other states, systemic
discrimination, union perspectives on LGBTI issues, attitudes
to HIV and people living with AIDS, and suggestions for how employers
and employees can support workers in the workplace during and
after transition to their new gender identity.
The forum provided an opportunity, the first for many attendees,
to consider LGBTI and employment issues and their impact on individuals
and the workplace.
Other Committees have also undertaken specific activities. The
Disability Advisory Committee, for example, asked that they be
provided with an update on the Standards, in particular the Access
to Buildings Standard. The Commission organised for Graeme Innes
(Deputy Disability Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission) to visit Brisbane to speak to Committee members
on the status of the Standards.
The Committees provide a unique opportunity for the Commission
to seek the views of specific sectors and to work co-operatively
on issues of mutual importance, and provide the communities with
a unique opportunity to get the 'ear' of the Commission,
to help inform the direction and focus for our work.
Play by the Rules (PBTR)
www.playbytherules is an online training and information resource
for sport and recreation clubs and associations. The website promotes
fun, safe and fair play across all sports and recreation, and
encourages organisations to eliminate discrimination, harassment
and vilification.
We’ve been working co-operatively with other states to
promote and develop Play by the Rules. Over the year, staff have
attended regular meetings to discuss the upgrade of the website
to make it a national resource, and the development of a national
suite of training programs to be delivered by individual states
to sport and recreation associations.
A launch of the resource is being planned, in partnership with
Queensland Sport and Recreation, for later in the year.
Online
Accessing online information continues to be an increasingly important
way of providing information about the Commission and its activities.
During the year, 188,713 people visited our website, 31,186 of
those visiting the community languages page, where we have brief
information in 18 community languages. The most popular languages
used were Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Farsi.
This website is a vital communication tool and is fully accessible
for people with a range of disabilities. It’s essential for
access to justice for many people who could not otherwise obtain
information on their rights and current activities of the Commission.
Further plans, which are subject to successful budget submissions,
will include complaint filing on-line, and more information on
the Commission and Tribunal processes to ensure parties have reasonable
expectations of the processes of conciliation. On-line training
programs about discrimination, harassment and vilification will
complement existing services.
Special Events
Queenslanders celebrate and embrace the diversity of our State
through many festivals and events. The Commission supports these
events to ensure the human rights and antidiscrimination message
reaches communities. This year we participated in Pride Week,
NAIDOC Week, International Women’s Day, Disability Action
Week and the Multicultural Festival.
Table of
Contents for ADCQ Annual Report 2004-05
