Do it Right! Come and Have a Yarn with us The Do it Right! forums Organising a Do it Right! forum Forum participlant - NSW Anti-Discrimination Board Forum participant - Workcover NSW Forum participant - Office of Fair Trading (Department of Commerce) Forum participant - Office of Industrial Relations (Department of Commerce) Forum participant - Legal Aid NSW Guest presenters More information

Participants at a forum in Condobolin forum included (back L-R) Janet Sloane from Central West Family Support, Amanda Coe from Midwestern Area Health Service, (front L-R) Vickie Brandy from Aboriginal HACC Services and Kerry Goolagong from Ngangara Home Care Service.

The Do it Right! forums

Do it Right! is a free two day seminar to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employers and workers.

The forums are a joint initiative between the the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, Workcover NSW, the NSW Office of Fair Trading and the NSW Office of Industrial Relations. The forums are called 'Marrambul Mali' (pronounced 'Murrum-bull mully') - Do it Right.

Aboriginal advisors from these and other agencies come along to meet with community members, have a chat and answer any questions people may have about employment and workplace issues. Having all the agencies in one place is very helpful because it enables people to look at all the different laws simultaneously. Local community workers can establish personal contact with the relevant advisor from each agency, which makes future communication easier.

Issues covered in the forums include employment rights and obligations, harassment and discrimination, workplace safety and workers compensation, employment and industrial relations laws, tax and superannuation and consumer rights and fair trading in employment. Issues that have emerged as being particularly relevant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community include:

• employers’ and employees’ rights and responsibilities under the different laws;
• what benefits are available to organisations and individuals;
• rights people have when making a purchase, and the pitfalls to avoid;
• the roles and liabilities of coordinators and board members in community organisations;
• what training is appropriate for staff; and
• suitable policies and procedures for community employers and organisations.

• running training sessions for employers, employees and service providers on rights and responsibilities under anti-discrimination law;
• checking workplace policies;
• making recommendations to the government about amendments to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

• promote the prevention of injuries, diseases and death at the workplace and develop healthy and safe workplaces;
• promote the prompt, efficient and effective management of the return to work of people injured at work;
• meet appropriate workers compensation insurance requirements.

• information on the rights and responsibilities of consumers of everyday goods and services;
• assistance in resolving disputes;
• information and assistance for people who are renting homes, buying or selling property or living in strata scheme;
• registering business names;
• providing licences and certificates for traders and businesses to operate in NSW;
• information for people in the accommodation and property services industries and those engaged in selling goods or providing services.

• pay rates;
• employment conditions, leave entitlements and work practices;
• irecruitment and termination of employment; and
• payslips and employment records.

Other organisations that contribute to the forums include the Australian Taxation Office, the Indigenous Women’s Legal Resource Centre, Maurice Blackburn Cashman Lawyers, the Arts Law Centre of Australia and Warringa Baiya Aboriginal Womens Legal Centre.