Legislation
Privacy Act (1988)
The Privacy Act (1988) (opens in a new window) is Australia's national law for the protection of personal information, such as information about a person’s disability, when handled by Federal and ACT Government Agencies and many private sector organisations.
Privacy principles in the act set the basic rules:
- for handling people’s information
- to encourage agencies and organisations to be open with people about how they handle their information and develop trust relationships.
Disability Discrimination Act (1992)
The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) (opens in a new window) aims to protect people with a disability from discrimination. Each state and territory of Australia also has complimentary legislation such as state Anti Discrimination/Equal Opportunity Acts that prohibit discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities.
The DDA and each State and Territory Act aims to protect people with disabilities from discriminatory treatment in a range of areas including employment, education and access to services, facilities and public areas.
A brief guide about the DDA 1992 is available on the Australian Human Rights website (opens in a new window). Find out more:
- DDA guide: What’s it all about (opens in a new window)
- What areas of life does the DDA cover (opens in a new window)
- Who does the DDA protect? (opens in a new window)
- Earning a living (opens in a new window)
- Getting an education (opens in a new window)
- The ins and outs of access (opens in a new window)
- Complaints and conciliation (opens in a new window)
For more information, refer to the full version of the DDA (1992) (opens in a new window)
State and Territory Agencies
- ACT Human Rights Commission (opens in a new window)
- QLD Anti-Discrimination Commission (opens in a new window)
- NSW Anti-Discrimination Board (opens in a new window)
- NT Anti-Discrimination Commission (opens in a new window)
- SA Equal Opportunity Commission (opens in a new window)
- TAS Equal Opportunity Commission (opens in a new window)
- VIC Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (opens in a new window)
- WA Equal Opportunity Commission (opens in a new window)
Disability Standards for Education (2005)
The Disability Standards for Education (2005) (opens in a new window) 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 other students.
The Disability Standards for Education (2005) (opens in a new window) were developed under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) (opens in a new window) and came into effect in August 2005.
Work Health and Safety Act (2011)
All employers have an obligation, under legislation and common law, to provide safe and healthy workplaces and to work against potential risks to the health and safety of employees.
Both State and Federal Government administer work health and safety legislation. There are two Acts administered by the Federal Government – the Work Health and Safety Act (2011) (opens in a new window) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (1988) (opens in a new window). Each state and territory of Australia also administers legislation. There are statutory bodies responsible for administering the Acts and managing the workplace safety, injury management and workers compensation systems.
State Statutory bodies responsible for administering state work health and safety legislation:
