The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provides protection for Australians with disability. The Act promotes equal rights, opportunities and access for people with disability, as well as making disability discrimination against the law. Disability discrimination happens when people with disability aren’t treated fairly and equally.
In 2015, 8.6 per cent of Australians with disability aged 15 years and over and living in households, reported that they had experienced discrimination or unfair treatment because of their disability. The rates of reported discrimination were similar for men (8.3 per cent) and women (8.9 per cent). However, the rates for young people (aged 15–24) facing discrimination (20.5 per cent), were much higher than those aged 65 years and over (2.1 per cent).
An employer was the source of discrimination for almost half of people with disability aged 15 to 64 years. This included those who were unemployed (46.9 per cent) or employed full-time (46.2 per cent), as well as just over one-third (34.6 per cent) of those employed part-time.
More than one-third (35.1 per cent) of women and more than one-quarter (28.1 per cent) of men aged 15 years and over had avoided situations because of their disability. Older people (aged 65 years and over) were less likely to avoid situations because of their disability (20.1 per cent) when compared to younger people (46.5 per cent).
Source: ABS 4430.0 – Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 http://linkis.com/www.abs.gov.au/ausst/Il7gj
National and State Anti-Discrimination Boards
National: Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Capital Territory: Human Rights Commission
New South Wales: Anti-Discrimination Board
Northern Territory: Anti Discrimination Commission
Queensland: Anti-Discrimination Commission
South Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission
Tasmania: Anti-Discrimination Commission
Victoria: Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission
Western Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission
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