Reconciliation Statement of the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission

The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission promotes equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination for all Victorians. This includes the right to be treated fairly at work, at school or university, in shops, clubs, when playing sport and when arranging housing.

Recognising that Indigenous Australians are often not treated fairly in these and many other areas, the Commission believes it is time to reaffirm the human rights of Indigenous Victorians and re-commit to ensuring Indigenous Victorians can live free from discrimination.

The Commission acknowledges that the human rights of Indigenous Australians have been significantly eroded since colonial settlement and will remain so until there is a shared awareness of the dispossession, marginalisation and stigma experienced by many Indigenous Australians. Discrimination against Indigenous peoples and the social and economic disadvantage experienced as a result is a part of this history. We know that we are only at the beginning of the journey towards Reconciliation and improving Indigenous Australians' access to their rights, but we are firmly committed to that journey.

The Commission and its staff acknowledge and respect the presence and contribution of Victoria's Indigenous peoples as the first peoples of the land, and their cultures, customs and values. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Commission is located - the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation - and their continuing spiritual connection to the land. We hope that through Reconciliation the links between the Commission and Indigenous peoples will be strengthened. The Commission hopes to work with Indigenous peoples for a future built on respect for human rights in which Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians can co-exist and co-operate, and achieve Reconciliation.

In acknowledging the loss, survival and resilience of Indigenous peoples in Victoria and throughout Australia, the Commission will strengthen its commitment to Reconciliation in the following ways:

The Commission's commitments.

The Commission will:

assist individuals wishing to improve their awareness of Indigenous peoples, culture and human rights to do so, including by providing links to appropriate Indigenous organisations and resources in the community;
consult with Indigenous representatives on how the Commission should provide Indigenous components of its education consultancy services to industry and the community;
establish partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations to find better ways of providing information about and improving awareness of Reconciliation and human rights linked to Reconciliation.

The Commission recognises that formal complaint processes for addressing discrimination may discourage Indigenous people from seeking advice or making complaints of discrimination.

To address this the Commission will:

continue to provide all of its services in a way that is sensitive to the needs of Indigenous people and ensure that Indigenous cross-cultural training is undertaken by all its staff on an on-going basis;
continue to address communication, cultural and other barriers experienced by Indigenous peoples at all stages of its processes, particularly by looking at more appropriate ways of handling, investigating and resolving complaints;
identify improvements to providing its services to Indigenous people in regional and remote communities, beginning by consulting with members of these communities on the support they require;
continue its focus on attracting and retaining Indigenous staff through advertising of positions in Indigenous publications and forums; and supporting Indigenous staff in their role;
review the processes for investigating and resolving complaints lodged by Indigenous people; and
review the operation of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act and the way complaints are handled under that Act.

It is hoped that through these measures, Indigenous Victorians will feel supported and empowered to act on their rights and to make complaints and seek redress under the Equal Opportunity Act and Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

Commitments to address systemic discrimination and racism.

In partnership with the Indigenous community, the Commission will continue to confront and combat racism and other discrimination in the Victorian community; in workplaces, in schools, in sport and in the media. To achieve this, the Commission's anti-racism strategies will be re-evaluated to ensure their effectiveness at encouraging Victorians to stand up to and seek redress for racist behaviours and attitudes.

Widespread discrimination against Indigenous people is a major challenge that the Commission is committed to addressing. The Commission's program to address systemic discrimination is aimed at resolving not only individual complaints but where possible the underlying attitudes and behaviours that lead to discrimination and racism. This program is in its initial stages and the Commission will periodically consult with Indigenous peoples to gauge whether systemic discrimination and racism directed at Indigenous Victorians is being adequately addressed by the program. To assist it, the Commission will establish a reference group to provide advice on Indigenous issues addressed through the systemic initiatives program.

The Commission embraces its responsibility for working with Indigenous Victorians to achieve equality and although much needs to be done, our vision is equality of enjoyment of rights in a reconciled community.