Useful contacts
Useful contacts
Organisations that handle discrimination complaints
The places listed below deal with enquiries and complaints about discrimination, victimisation harassment and public threats of violence.
Anti-Discrimination NSW (ADNSW)
- www.antidiscrimination.nsw.gov.au
- Locked Bag 5000, Parramatta NSW 2124
- (02) 9268 5544 (discrimination enquiries and complaints)
- 1800 670 812 (toll free)
- (02) 9268 5500 (fax)
- complaintsadb@justice.nsw.gov.au
Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
- www.humanrights.gov.au
- Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
- GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
- 1300 369 711 (general enquiries)
- 1800 620 241 (TTY)
- 1300 656 419 (National Information Service)
- (02) 9284 9611 (fax)
- infoservice@humanrights.gov.au
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) (Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division)
- www.ncat.nsw.gov.au
- John Maddison Tower, Level 10, 86–90 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000
- 1300 006 228 (general enquiries)
- 1300 555 727 (National Relay Service)
- aeod@ncat.nsw.gov.au
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
- www.fcfcoa.gov.au
- 1300 352 000 (general enquiries)
- 133 677 (National Relay Service)
Federal Court of Australia (FCA)
Sydney
- Law Courts Building, Level 17, Queens Square, Sydney NSW 2000
- 1300 720 980
- (02) 9230 8295 (fax)
- nswreg@fedcourt.gov.au
Brisbane
- Level 6, Harry Gibbs Commonwealth Law Courts Building Brisbane QLD 4000
- 1300 720 980
- (07) 3248 1260 (fax: general)
- (07) 3248 1240 (fax: filing)
- qldreg@fedcourt.gov.au
Melbourne
- Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William St
- Melbourne VIC 3000
- 1300 720 980
- (03) 8600 3351 (fax)
- vicreg@fedcourt.gov.au
Fair Work Commission (FWC)
- www.fwc.gov.au
- Level 10, Terrace Tower
- 80 William Street
- East Sydney NSW 2011
- 1300 799 675 (national help line)
- (02) 9380 6990 (fax)
- sydney@fwc.gov.au
Fair Work Ombudsman
- www.fairwork.gov.au
- Level 13, 175 Liverpool Street
- Sydney NSW 2000
- GPO Box 9887 Sydney NSW 2001
- 131 394 (general enquiries)
- 1800 555 677 (TTY)
- 1800 555 727 (Speak and Listen)
Interpreters
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
- www.tisnational.gov.au
- To use an interpreter over the telephone, call 131 450 (24 hours 7 days)
Places to get legal information, advice and assistance about discrimination
The places listed below can give you legal information, advice or assistance about any type of discrimination, no matter where you live in New South Wales.
LawAccess NSW
- www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
- 1300 888 529
Legal Aid NSW
Legal Aid NSW provides free legal advice and legal representation in court for eligible clients. Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 or find your nearest Legal Aid NSW office at www.legalaid.nsw.gov. au/contact-us
Kingsford Legal Centre
- www.klc.unsw.edu.au
- (02) 9385 9566
- (02) 9385 9583 (fax)
- Discrimination Law Line: 1300 722 795
- legal@unsw.edu.au
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
- www.piac.asn.au
- (02) 8898 6500
- (02) 8898 6555 (fax)
The places listed below have specialist services for particular groups of people. If you are in one of the groups listed, they can give you legal advice about any type of discrimination, no matter where you live in New South Wales.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre
- www.wirringabaiya.org.au
- (02) 9569 3847
- 1800 686 587
- info@wirringabaiya.org.au
Women’s Legal Services NSW – First Nations Women’s Legal Program
- www.wlsnsw.org.au
- (02) 8745 6977
- 1800 639 784
Children and Young People (Under 18)
Marrickville Legal Centre Youth Legal Service
- www.mlc.org.au
- (02) 9559 2899
Youth Law Australia
- www.yla.org.au
- 1800 950 570
Shopfront Youth Legal Centre
- www.theshopfront.org
- (02) 9322 4808
Disability
Australian Centre for Disability Law
- www.disabilitylaw.org.au
- (02) 9370 3135
- 1800 800 708
National Relay Service
- www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service
- 1300 555 727
- 133 677 (TTY)
- 0423 677 767 (SMS)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex
Inner City Legal Centre
- www.iclc.org.au
- (02) 9332 1966
- 1800 244 481
- iclc@iclc.org.au
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS Legal Centre
- www.halc.org.au
- (02) 9206 2060
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
- www.idrs.org.au
- (02) 9265 6350 (enquiries)
- (02) 9265 6300/1300 665 908 (Justice Advocacy Service)
Older People
Seniors Rights Service
- www.seniorsrightsservice.org.au
- (02) 9281 3600
- 1800 424 079
- info@seniorsrightsservice.org.au
Women
Women’s Legal Services NSW
- www.wlsnsw.org.au
- (02) 8745 6988
- 1800 801 501
Community legal centres
Community Legal Centres NSW
- www.clcnsw.org.au
- (02) 9212 7333
Central Coast Community Legal Service
- www.centralcoastclc.org.au
- (02) 4353 4988
Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre
- www.ctbmclc.org.au
- Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Oberon and Bathurst regions
- (02) 4704 0207
- 1300 363 967
Far West Community Legal Centre
- www.farwestclc.org.au
- (08) 8088 2020
- reception@farwestclc.org.au
Hume Riverina Community Legal Service
- www.hrcls.org.au
- (02) 6055 8090
- 1800 918 377
Hunter Community Legal Centre
- www.hunterclc.com.au
- (02) 4040 9120
- 1800 650 073
Illawarra Legal Centre
- www.illawarralegalcentre.org.au
- (02) 4276 1939
Inner City Legal Centre
- www.iclc.org.au
- (02) 9332 1966
- 1800 244 481
Kingsford Legal Centre
- www.klc.unsw.edu.au
- (02) 9385 9566
Macarthur Legal Centre
- www.maclegal.net.au
- (02) 4628 2042
Marrickville Legal Centre
- www.mlc.org.au
- (02) 9559 2899
North & North West Community Legal Service
- www.nnwcls.org.au
- (02) 6772 8100
- 1800 687 687
Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre
- www.northernriversclc.org.au
- (02) 6621 1000
Redfern Legal Centre
- www.rlc.org.au
- (02) 9698 7277
- 1800 689 889
Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre
- www.shoalcoast.org.au
- (02) 4422 9529
- 1800 229 529
South West Sydney Legal Centre
- www.swslc.org.au
- (02) 9601 7777
University of Newcastle Legal Centre
Western Sydney Community Legal Centre Limited
- www.wsclc.org.au
- (02) 8833 0911
Western NSW Community Legal Centre Inc
- www.wnswclc.org.au
- (02) 6884 9422
- 1800 655 927
Private solicitors
The places listed below might be able to help you find a solicitor or barrister to take on your case for free or at a low cost.
Law Society of NSW
- www.lawsociety.com.au
- Solicitor Referral Service
- (02) 9926 0300
- Email: ereferral@lawsociety.com.au
NSW Bar Association
- www.nswbar.asn.au
- Legal Assistance Referral Scheme (02) 9232 4055
- legalassist@nswbar.asn.au
Justice Connect (formerly Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH))
- www.justiceconnect.org.au
- (02) 8599 2100
Places that handle other sorts of complaints
For a detailed directory of places where you can make complaints, go to www.complaintline.com.au. The places listed below might be able to help you if you have a problem with an organisation or a government department. Usually, you have to try to sort out your problem directly with the organisation or government department before you can go to one of these organisations.
The services listed below are arranged by type of problem.
Accommodation
NSW Fair Trading
- www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
- 133 220
Tenants’ Union of NSW
- www.tenants.org.au
- (02) 8117 3700
- 1800 251 101
Banks and other credit providers
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
- www.afca.org.au
- 1800 931 678
Consumer (goods and services)
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- www.accc.gov.au
- 1300 302 502
ACCC Indigenous Infoline
- 1300 303 143
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
- www.afca.org.au
- 1800 931 678
NSW Fair Trading
- www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
- 133 220
Education
Catholic Education Commission
- www.csnsw.catholic.edu.au
- (02) 9287 1555
NSW Department of Education
- www.education.nsw.gov.au
- 1300 679 332
Employment
Comcare Australia
- www.comcare.gov.au
- (02) 6276 0333
- 1300 366 979
Fair Work Commission
- www.fwc.gov.au
- 1300 799 675
Fair Work Ombudsman
- www.fairwork.gov.au
- 131 394
NSW Industrial Relations Commission
- www.irc.nsw.gov.au
- (02) 8688 3516
SafeWork NSW & State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
- www.safework.nsw.gov.au
- 131 050
Government departments
Commonwealth Ombudsman
- www.ombudsman.gov.au
- (for complaints about Commonwealth Government departments)
- 1300 362 072
NSW Ombudsman
- www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
- (for complaints about NSW government departments)
- (02) 9286 1000
- 1800 451 524
Health
Health Care Complaints Commission
- www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
- (02) 9219 7444
- (02) 9219 7555 (TTY)
- 1800 043 159
Each health care profession also has its own organisation which you can complain to. If you want the name of one of these organisations, contact the Health Care Complaints Commission.
Hotels
Australian Hotels Association NSW
- www.ahansw.com.au
- (02) 9281 6922
Immigration
Department of Home Affairs
- www.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 131 881
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
- www.mara.gov.au
- (02) 9078 3552
- 1300 226 272
Insurance
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
- www.afca.org.au
- 1800 931 678
Commonwealth Ombudsman
- www.ombudsman.gov.au
- 1300 362 072
Lawyers
Office of the Legal Services Commissioner
- www.olsc.nsw.gov.au
- (02) 9377 1800
- (02) 9377 1855 (TTY)
- 1800 242 958
Local Councils
The Office of Local Government
- www.olg.nsw.gov.au
- (02) 4428 4100
Media and advertising
Ad Standards
- www.adstandards.com.au
- (02) 6173 1500
Australian Communications and Media Authority
- www.acma.gov.au
- 1300 850 115
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
- www.meaa.org
- 1300 656 513
Australian Press Council
- www.presscouncil.org.au
- (02) 9261 1930
- 1800 025 712
Advertising Council Australia
- www.advertisingcouncil.org.au
- (02) 8297 3800
Neighbour disputes
Community Justice Centres
- www.cjc.justice.nsw.gov.au
- 1800 990 777
Police
NSW Ombudsman
- www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
- 1800 451 524
NSW Police Service Customer Assistance Unit
- www.police.nsw.gov.au
- 1800 622 571
Privacy
Information and Privacy Commission NSW
- www.ipc.nsw.gov.au
- 1800 472 679
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- www.oaic.gov.au
- 1300 363 992
Registered clubs
NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing
- www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au
- 1300 024 720
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
- www.tio.com.au
- 1800 062 058
Transport
Transport for NSW
- www.transport.nsw.gov.au
- (02) 8202 2200
State Transit Authority of NSW
Sydney Trains
NSW Taxi Council
- www.nswtaxi.org.au
- (02) 8339 4644
Other places to get help
If you have been the victim of a crime, call the police on 000 if it is an emergency. If it is not an emergency, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. You can also call the Victims Services’ Victims Access Line, or visit its website to get information, support and referrals to other service providers:
- www.victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au
- 1800 633 063
- 1800 019 123 (Aboriginal Contact Line)
Unions
Unions can help their members sort out problems in the workplace. To find our more about unions contact:
Australian Council of Trade Unions
- www.actu.org.au
- 1300 486 466
Unions NSW
- www.unionsnsw.org.au
- (02) 9881 5999
Other advocacy or support services
Below is a list of some advocacy and support organisations. These services might be able to give you some support or point you in the direction of someone who can.
You might also like to check for other advocacy services offered by ADA Australia for aged and disability advocates:
- www.adaaustralia.com.au/aged-care-advocacy
- 1800 818 338
Ageing and Disability Commission
- Ageing and Disability Abuse
- www.ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au
- Helpline: 1800 628 221
Australian Centre for Disability Law
- www.disabilitylaw.org.au
- 1800 800 708
- (02) 7229 0061
Carers NSW Australia
- www.carersnsw.org.au
- (02) 9280 4744
- 1800 422 737 Carer Gateway services
Deaf Society of New South Wales
- www.deafsociety.org.au
- (02) 8833 3600
- 1800 893 855
- (02) 8833 3691 (TTY)
Dementia Australia NSW
- www.dementia.org.au
- (02) 9805 0100
- 1800 100 500
Disability Advocacy NSW
- www.da.org.au
- (02) 4927 0111
- 1300 365 085
People With Disability Australia (PWDA)
- www.pwd.org.au
- (02) 9370 3100
- 1800 422 015
Disability Gateway
- www.disabilitygateway.gov.au
- 1800 643 787
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health
- www.embracementalhealth.org.au
- (02) 6285 3100
Ethnic Communities Council
- www.eccnsw.org.au
- (02) 9319 0288
Family Advocacy
- www.family-advocacy.com
- (02) 9869 0866
- 1800 620 588
Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of NSW
- www.pandc.org.au
- 1300 885 982
Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
- www.glrl.org.au
- Jack Whitney – Co-convenor
- 0411 387 913
The Gender Centre Inc.
- www.gendercentre.org.au
- (02) 9569 2366
- (02) 9519 7599
IDEAS (Information on Disability Education & Awareness Services)
- www.ideas.org.au
- (02) 6947 3377
Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association Inc
- www.speakout.org.au
- (02) 9635 8022
Indigenous Disability Advocacy Service
- (02) 9687 7688
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association
- www.mdaa.org.au
- (02) 9891 6400
- 1800 629 072
National Disability Insurance Scheme
- www.ndiscommission.gov.au
- 1800 800 110
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- www.ndis.gov.au
- 1800 035 544
NSW Council for Intellectual Disability
- www.cid.org.au
- 1800 424 065
One Door Mental Health
- www.onedoor.org.au
- (formerly Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW)
- 1800 843 539
Settlement Services International
- www.ssi.org.au
- (02) 8799 6700
Self-Advocacy Sydney Inc.
- www.sasinc.com.au
- (02) 9622 3005
Seniors Rights Service
- www.seniorsrightsservice.org.au
- 1800 424 079
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
- www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
- (02) 9912 3850
- 1800 011 511
Way Ahead Mental Health Association NSW
- www.wayahead.org.au
- (02) 9339 6000 (WayAhead office)
- 1300 794 991 (mental health enquiries)
- 1300 794 992 (support line for anxiety disorders)
Counselling services
Many people who have experienced discrimination find it helpful to speak to a counsellor. To find the right counsellor for you, talk to your GP, your local community health centre or someone at one of the advocacy and support services listed in this Toolkit. Look in your local phonebook if you’re not sure where your nearest community health centre is. If you are a woman, you might also be able to get some free counselling at a women’s health centre. Contact Women’s Health NSW at www.whnsw.asn.au or on (02) 9560 0866 to find the centre nearest you.
If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you might be able to get some free counselling at the Aboriginal Medical Service. Contact them on (02) 9319 5823.
For other useful counselling services, see www.health.nsw.gov.au.
If you need to talk to someone straight away, you can call one of the services listed below.
Domestic Violence Line
- 1800 656 463
Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation)
- www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace
- 1800 650 890 (eheadspace)
Kids Help Line
- www.kidshelp.com.au
- 1800 551 800
Lifeline
- www.lifeline.org.au
- 131 114
Mensline Australia
- www.mensline.org.au
- 1300 789 978
NSW Mental Health Line
- 1800 011 511
NSW Rural Mental Health Support Line
Sexual Assault Hotline
- 1800 424 017