Understand your rights

Australia’s Constitution outlines how Australia is governed. It provides a framework for the protection of human rights, including the principle of equality before the law.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is an independent third party which investigates and conciliates complaints about discrimination and human rights breaches. The process is free and confidential and allows individuals to resolve disputes quickly and effectively.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person in many areas of public life, including employment, education, getting or using services, renting or buying a property and accessing public places, because of disability.

The Act sets out the objects and principles under which the NDIS operates, including how people can become participants, how Plans are prepared and approved and the process for review of decisions. It also outlines the NDIA’s governance arrangements.

The Act provides a framework for the provision of education to all children in Australia, including those with disabilities. It sets out the obligations of schools, government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that children with disabilities receive an education that is tailored to their needs and enables them to participate fully in society.

The Disability Standards for Education clarify the obligations of education and training providers and seek to ensure that students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability.

An Act to provide for the recognition of the role of carers in the community and to provide a mechanism for their involvement in the provision of services that impact them and the role of carers.

The Convention (CRPD) reaffirms that persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights, areas where their rights have been violated and where protection of rights must be reinforced.

The Convention (UNCRC) is a treaty, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, which outlines the basic human rights to which all children are entitled. The Convention recognises that children with disabilities are a vulnerable group and deserve special protection.