The Disability Information and Resource Centre

On 14 July 2009, the SA Parliament passed the Equal Opportunity (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, strengthening SA laws and giving South Australians better options to solve discrimination problems locally.

There is more protection for:

• people who care for a dependent child or a family member
• people with a mental illness, or an infection without symptoms
• domestic partners
• people discriminated against because of their spouse or partner
• contractors
• people who have been sexually harassed.

Workers have better protection, if they:

• are sexually harassed and the employer has not taken reasonable steps to prevent the harassment
• are harassed by customers or clients – such as waiters harassed by patrons, and care workers harassed by residents
• wear dress or adornments symbolic of their religion.

Schools and universities must have sexual harassment policies.  And, students and staff are able to lodge a complaint about sexual harassment by any student aged 16 or over.

The time limit for lodging a complaint is doubled, from six months to twelve months.

Also, some outdated laws have been repealed:

• clubs and associations may not turn away homosexual members
• small partnerships may not refuse to admit new members to partnership on the ground of their sexuality
• church-run hospitals, aged-care homes and welfare agencies may not discriminate on sexuality.

A commencement date for the new law is yet to be fixed.  For more information, go to:  www.eoc.sa.gov.au

News Release

Hon Michael Atkinson

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice

Thursday, 17 July 2008

www.ministers.sa.gov.au

HEALTH EXPERT TO HELP THE VULNERABLE

The Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has announced the appointment of leading health expert Dr John Brayley as Public Advocate. Dr Brayley will start his five-year appointment on Monday, taking over from John Harley, who resigned earlier this year after serving nine years as Public Advocate.

“Dr Brayley is a perfect fit for this demanding but rewarding position,” Mr Atkinson said.

Dr Brayley is a Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at Flinders University and a consultant for health services in S.A. and interstate. He was formerly the Director of Mental Health in S.A’s Department of Health and the Chief Adviser in Psychiatry to the Mental Health Minister. For the past year, he’s been an honorary adviser to the Social Inclusion Board.

The Public Advocate is an independent official who can advise people with a mental incapacity on their rights and provide them with representation.

“Dr Brayley is noted for promoting the interests of vulnerable people, their families and carers. For more than a decade, he’s been a strong ally for those facing mental illness, disability and homelessness,” Mr Atkinson said.

In addition to giving one-on-one help, the Advocate reviews programs and systems in the Government, non-Government and community sectors to identify improvements that can be made.

“The Rann Government is drastically reforming the mental health system to achieve better outcomes for individuals and the public. Dr Brayley’s knowledge of those changes and his ample experience in the health sector will be instrumental in reaching those goals,” Mr Atkinson said.

At the centre of Dr Brayley’s work will be ensuring dignity for people who are disadvantaged as a result of mental illness or disability.

“Often, people with a mental incapacity fall through the gaps because they don’t get the support they need to make important decisions. This can leave them even more vulnerable and disconnected from society,” Dr Brayley said.

“I see this role as a chance to connect people to the support that’s available whether it be guiding them through processes or paving the way for change,” “I’d like to thank Mr Harley for his hard work as Public Advocate and wish Dr Brayley all the best in his efforts to help the most vulnerable South Australians,” Mr Atkinson said.

For further information contact Jayne Stinson on 8207 1738 or 0458 547 512