Australians of all ages have the right to be treated fairly and enjoy the same opportunities as others. Anti-discrimination laws and the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of age in many areas of public life including employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.
There are two forms of discrimination that you may experience; these are ‘direct’ discrimination and ‘indirect’ discrimination. ‘Direct’ discrimination may take form in someone refusing you access to a restaurant or nightclub because you have a guide dog. ‘Indirect’ discrimination may take form in there not being a ramp for people with disabilities using a wheelchair to access a building.
If you would like more information about the Disability Act, you can contact the Disability Gateway:
Phone: 1800 643 787
The Australian Human Rights Commission offers resources to help you understand your rights. For information on disability rights click here to visit AHRC website, or for an information brochure on your rights click here.
For more information on understanding rights, go to the ‘Understanding Rights’ section of this guide.