Our services for First Nations people in Canberra

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination, racial vilification or harassment, the ACT Human Rights Commission can help.

No one should be treated unfairly because of their race, physical features, the language they speak or their parent, family, carer or kinship responsibilities. ACT law protects your right to be treated equally, to speak up and to be heard.

You, or someone you know with your permission, can raise concerns or complaints with us about discrimination in employment, education and the provision of accommodation and goods, services or facilities. You can also raise concerns or complaints with us about racial vilification or sexual harassment you have experienced.

In addition to considering complaints about discrimination, we also accept complaints about:

• Services provided to you by doctors, health practitioners and health providers
• Services being provided to children & young people, such as education and child protection services
• Services for people with a disability
• Services provided by justice agencies to victims of crime
• Services for older people, such as aged care services and retirement villages
• Accommodation services being provided to you
• Concerns about the abuse, neglect or exploitation of people over 60 or an adult with a disability

We know sometimes people are worried about raising a concern even where the issue affects their day-to-day life.  People who wish to talk to someone at the Commission can do so anonymously or confidentially.

The Commission’s complaint handling service is safe, accessible, and free.  We will try and help you resolve the concern or complaint. If we can’t deal with an issue or the issues cannot be resolved through our process, we will talk to you about other options or places you can go for support.

View some examples of the types of complaints made to the Commission.

Cultural  rights under the Human Rights Act

Section 27(2) of the Act  says that Aboriginal people must not be denied the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their culture, and to have their traditional connections with land, waters and resources recognised and valued. From June 2024 complaints can be made about breaches of human rights under the ACT Human Rights Act 20025. This includes concerns about alleged breaches of s.27(2) which outlines cultural rights of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. More on the cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• Cultural safety charter Ngattai yeddung (PDF 757 KB)
• Information on cultural rights in Ngunnawal/Walgalu (PDF 530KB)