Complaints

Human Rights Advocates are a national advocacy practice. Our team of advocates regularly facilitate advocacy throughout Australia, both in capital cities and regional locations. Regardless of where you are located in Australia, we can help. HRAA provide alternative dispute resolution services at an extremely affordable and fair price. We have extensive experience in mediation, conciliation, facilitation, human rights and advocacy and have facilitated with resolutions for thousands of clients.

Our experienced professional team are there to assist you to resolve your disputes and address your concerns. HRAA offers fixed fee services so you will know at the outset exactly what the Advocacy fees will be. In other words, unlike litigation, you’ll get no surprise legal bills in the mail.

We are not cold, uninterested ‘middle-men’ – we are people like you, who have also had to face challenges and obstacles. We understand the emotional stress that disputes can evoke, as well as physical responses that sometimes emerge. We have empathy and understanding for what our clients are facing, and work hard to generate a solution with the best possible outcome.

Advocate Consultations

If you would like to speak to one of our friendly and professional advocates, for an advocacy opinion, we are here to help. Business owners, consumers and the general public are welcome to reach out for help. If you require URGENT help, please scroll down to our urgent same day service.*

What you will receive:

1. Up to 60 minutes phone consultation with an experienced advocate which may include both verbal and written assistance.

2. A "show cause" letter will be provided (if appropriate).

3. A follow up email after the consultation recapping what was discussed and recommendations made in the consultation.

Further work required for your matter, whether it be basic written communications, handling all correspondence with employer or assisting with Court matters; will be assessed and costed on a case-by-case basis and where legal advice is required, you will be referred to a specialist independent lawyer, who we know and trust to best help you. Any costs, will be agreed upon between you and the independent lawyer.

Request a Consultation

Urgent Advocate Consultations

If you would like to speak to one of our friendly and professional advocates, for an URGENT (same day) advocacy opinion & assistance, we are here to help. Business owners, consumers and the general public are welcome to reach out for opinions and advocacy.

Consultation forms received by HRAA by 4pm AEST, will be contacted the same day for urgent matters. If submission is received after 4pm AEST, an advocate will be in touch before 12pm the following day.

What you will receive:

1. Up to 60 minutes phone consultation with an experienced advocate which may include both verbal and written assistance.

2. A "show cause" letter will be provided (if appropriate).

3. A follow up email after the consultation recapping what was discussed and recommendations made in the consultation.

Further work required for your matter, whether it be basic written communications, handling all correspondence with employer or assisting with Court matters; will be assessed and costed on a case-by-case basis and where legal advice is required, you will be referred to a specialist independent lawyer, who we know and trust to best help you. Any costs, will be agreed upon between you and the independent lawyer.

Request an Urgent Consultation

Employment Disputes

If you have been discriminated against by your employer:

If you require advocacy services to handle the matter on your behalf, please lodge an employment complaint with Human Rights Advocates Australia. Once you complete the form, one of our senior advocates will be assigned to your case.

The advocate will set an initial consultation (up to 60 minutes) with you to discuss your matter and work through an alternative dispute resolution. We will continue to advocate on your behalf until we have an outcome. We will take care of all correspondence and provide your employer with all the relevant letters, research, studies and supporting documents.

No business owner wants the negative impacts that losing valuable staff will cause, as skills shortages can be difficult and costly to replace, hurting businesses. So before terminating your employment, we ask the business to consider negotiating alternative outcomes.

If you have sick leave entitlements and are feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed, we will assist you in taking stress leave and accessing those entitlements. This will also help buy some valuable time to have right of review and consider your options without being rushed into decisions you are not comfortable with. If you have other leave entitlements, we will assist you in accessing those also.

If the matter needs to be escalated and requires legal counsel, you will be referred to a specialist independent lawyer. The independent lawyers are those which we know and trust, to make sure you are represented the best way possible. Any costs, will be agreed upon between you and the independent lawyer.

Remember any interaction with your employer could be recorded and possibly used against you in legal action later on in the form of an affidavit.

Make a Complaint - Employees

Consumer Disputes

Human Rights Advocates Australia is a nationwide organisation, who represent thousands of consumers victimized by fraudulent, abusive, discriminatory and predatory business practices. We are committed to advancing the cause of just treatment and ethical representation for consumers.

As an organisation devoted to consumer justice, we are committed to educating consumers like you about their rights and helping them achieve justice for themselves and for their communities.

Consumer Rights

We all want to be treated fairly. At work or school, when we buy something or receive a service. We don’t want to be judged simply because of how we look, our disability, sex, or our age. Unfortunately, people are often judged on an aspect of their body or character, rather than being seen as a whole person. In Australia, we have a law that protects people from this kind of unfair treatment.

Addressing Concerns

One of the main concerns is discrimination. When we talk about a person being discriminated against, it means they’re being treated badly or unfairly because of a personal characteristic that is protected by the law.

Discrimination happens when a person, or a group of people, is treated less favourably than another person or group because of their background or certain personal characteristics. This is known as ‘direct discrimination’.

It is also discrimination when an unreasonable rule or policy applies to everyone but has the effect of disadvantaging some people because of a personal characteristic they share. This is known as ‘indirect discrimination’.

Discrimination can be against the law if it is based on a person’s: age disability, or race, including colour, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status sex, pregnancy, marital or relationship status, family responsibilities or breastfeeding sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Discrimination on these grounds is against the law in several areas of public life, including employment, education, getting or using services or renting or buying a house or unit.

The Process

Our senior Advocate will set an initial consultation (up to 60 minutes) with you to discuss your matter and work through an alternative dispute resolution. We will continue to Advocate on your behalf until we have an outcome. We will take care of all correspondence and provide the respondent with all the relevant letters, research, studies and supporting documents.

Fixed Fee Advocacy

You will know at the outset exactly what the Advocacy fees will be. In other words, unlike litigation, you’ll get no surprise legal bills in the mail.

Should the matter need to be escalated, Human RIghts Advocates Australia can also Advocate on your behalf to the relevant commission or tribunal.

Make a Complaint - Consumers

Human Rights Commission, Tribunal or Relevant Commission

Should your matter require escalation to the Human Rights Commission in your state, territory or at the federal level, we can advocate on your behalf to the Human Rights Commission or other relevant Tribunal / Commission.

These commission's are independent third parties which investigates complaints about discrimination and human rights breaches. It does not act as an advocate or legal representative for a party to a complaint. This is where HRAA step in, to represent you and fight for your rights and resolve the matter with the best possible outcome.

Complaints to the Commission are resolved through a process known as conciliation. Conciliation is a very successful way of resolving complaints. It also helps them to better understand the issues and come up with solutions that are appropriate to their circumstances. Complaint outcomes can include an apology, reinstatement to a job, compensation for lost wages, changes to a policy or developing and promoting anti-discrimination policies. HRAA have managed hundreds of cases with state, territory and federal commissions and have been extremely successful for our clients.

What you will receive:

1. Up to 60 minutes phone consultation with a senior advocate to talk about your complaint and we may ask you to provide more information. We will also explain the process of the relevant commission and provide you with all documentation for your case.

2. We will handle all correspondence and written communications to the commission on your behalf and begin the investigation and communications between the parties involved.

3. Provide dispute resolution and enter into conciliation to achieve the best possible outcome and resolution for you.

Request Representation

Fair Work Commission Representation

If you are an employee (people employed under national awards (modern awards) and national agreements are covered by the Fair Work system), have been terminated unfairly & would like to escalate this to the Fair Work Commission as a complaint, HRAA can assist.

We provide administrative and advocacy work and represent you in the proceedings or if you prefer, we can empower and support you in representing yourself.

Please note, FWC complaints need to be lodged within 21 days of termination from your employment and if you have been employed with the business for less than 6 months, you are ineligible to make a FWC complaint as per the FWC rules.

FWC Representation

Industrial Relations Commission Representation

If you are a STATE or GOVERNMENT employee (public service employment in state government and local government organisations), have been treated unfairly & would like to escalate a dispute to the Industrial Relations Commission as a complaint, HRAA can assist. We provide administrative and advocacy work and represent you in the proceedings or if you prefer, we can empower and support you in representing yourself.

The Commission's principal role is to resolve industrial disputes, unfair dismissal claims, fix wages rates and set terms and conditions of employment by making industrial awards and approving enterprise agreements.

What you will receive:

1. Up to 60 minutes phone consultation with a Senior Advocate to talk about your complaint and we may ask you to provide more information. We will also explain the process of the IRC and provide you with all documentation for your case.

2. We will handle all correspondence and written communications to the commission on your behalf and begin the investigation and communications between the parties involved.

3. Provide dispute resolution and enter into conciliation to achieve the best possible outcome and resolution for you.

Request Representation

Family Advocacy and Legal Matters

If you would like a consultation with one of our friendly and professional Advocates, for an advocacy opinion in relation to your family matter, we are here to help. Types of matters can include Denial of access to see children, Custody disputes, Orders of one parent to make medical decisions, Orders of one parent to make schooling decisions, Parental disagreements, Urgent family matters, Intervention Order Applications, Family & non family IVO/AVO (Intervention Orders) matters.

HRAA are not a legal practice. We are an advocacy service which finds solutions where the legal system fails. We can assist with reading court/mediation documents, letter writing, mediation services and conciliations between parties. If the matter needs to be escalated and requires legal counsel, you will be referred to a specialist independent lawyer. The independent lawyers are those which we know and trust, to make sure you are represented the best way possible. Any costs, will be agreed upon between you and the independent lawyer.

Human Rights Advocates Australia have assisted many clients and families in these situations by providing the right information, studies, support and mediation for both parents to understand the impacts of these decisions, especially for the child.
Lawyers charge between $300-$700 per hour and one letter can cost up to $1200. Quite often, one parent cannot afford these fees and therefore cannot receive the support they need, which results in not progressing and losing the dispute. Going to court comes with significant financial and emotional costs, so is best avoided.

What you will receive: If you would like to speak to one of our friendly and professional Advocates, we are here to help. Families are welcome to reach out for our advocacy opinion & assistance. Once you complete the form, one of our senior advocates will be assigned to your case. The advocate will set an initial consultation (up to 60 minutes) with you to discuss your matter.

Further work required for your matter, whether it be basic written communications through to Court matters; will be assessed and costed on a case-by-case basis and where legal advice is required, you will be referred to a specialist independent lawyer who we know and trust.