WA Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Dr John Byrne spoke at the Restorative Justice - Empowering Victims conference held by the Department of Justice recently.
The Regional Awareness and Accessibility Program (RAAP) team spent three days in Carnarvon recently providing outreach and service to the Carnarvon community.
The Equal Opportunity Commission is open to the public from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
The Commissioner can investigate and endeavour to conciliate allegations of discrimination based on one or more grounds of the Act. A complaint must be in writing and can be in a person's first language. The incident or incidents included in a complaint must have occurred less than 12 months before the complaint is lodged. In some circumstances, the Commissioner may consider conciliation can help to resolve a complaint and a conciliation conference may be organised so the parties can participate. If a complaint is not conciliated and has not been dismissed by the Commissioner, it is referred to the State Administrative Tribunal with a assistance from the Commissioner. If a complaint has been dismissed the complainant can have the complaint referred to the Tribunal but is not assisted by the Commissioner.
Laws alone do not end intolerance, prejudice and discrimination in our community - so education is a vital part of the Commission’s function.
Community events, education, training sessions, seminars, workshops and papers are regularly presented by Commission staff. These seek to enhance understanding of the principles of equal opportunity, as well as increase recognition of the provisions contained in the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. Presentations or training by Commission staff may be requested by contacting the Commission.
