"What you can do if you are treated unfairly" gives a general explanation of anti-discrimination law in NSW in easy English for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

You can download this factsheet as a PDF. You can request a single print copy by phoning our Enquiry Line on (02) 9268 5544 or 1800 670 812, or order multiple copies using the order form under "Quick links" at the right. The text of the factsheet is also reproduced below.

What you can do if you are treated unfairly (PDF - 104Kb)

To download a PDF document you need Adobe Acrobat. You can download the software for free from the Adobe website - Adobe Acrobat. Please note Mac OS X and Safari users: For Mac OS X, the default browser is Safari. If you experience problems accessing forms and documents on Lawlink websites using Safari as your Web browser, you may need to use an alternative browser, see the Macintosh Products Guide for more information.

What you can do if you are treated unfairly
Contents

What is discrimination?
When is this discrimination against the law?
Vilification
What can I do if one of these things happens to me?
What will happen next?
What is the Anti-Discrimination Board?

What is discrimination?

Discrimination is when someone treats you unfairly or badly just because you belong to a particular group of people. For example, they may not give you a job, they may not let you join a club, or they may call you rude names. The Anti-Discrimination Board may be able to help you to stop many types of discrimination.

The following types of discrimination are against the law in NSW:

Sex discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are a woman or because you are a man.

Pregnancy discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are going to have a baby.

Breastfeeding discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are breastfeeding or you are expressing milk.

Race discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because of your race, your colour, the country you came from or in some cases your religion.

Age discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because of your age, because someone thinks you are too old or too young.

Homosexual or lesbian discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are gay or lesbian.

Marital or domestic status discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are not married, or because you are married, or because you are living with someone you aren’t married to, or or because you are separated, or because you are divorced, or because you are a widow or a widower.

Disability discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you have a disability. For example, you cannot hear, you cannot see, you are sick, you have problems walking, you have a mental illness, or you have HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.

Transgender discrimination
When you are treated unfairly because you are a man who lives or wants to live as a woman, or because you are a woman who lives or wants to live as a man.

Carers’ responsibilities discrimination
When you are treated unfairly at work because you look after a child or a close family member.

Discrimination because of a relative or friend
When you are treated unfairly because of your relative or friend’s sex, pregnancy, breastfeeding, race, age, marital status, homosexuality or lesbianism, disability, transgender status or carers’ responsibilities.

Harassment
When someone treats you badly because of your sex, pregnancy, breastfeeding, race, age, marital status, homosexuality or lesbianism, disability, transgender status or carers’ responsibilities, and you are upset by this.

Sexual harassment
When someone behaves sexually towards you and you don’t like it. For example, they use sexual words, touch you, put up sexual posters, or tell sexual jokes.

• when you apply for a job;
• at work;
• when you study in public schools, colleges and universities;
• when you buy things — in shops, hotels, cafes, restaurants or cinemas;
• when you ask for services ­— from banks, lawyers, doctors, local councils or government offices;
• when you rent a flat, house, hotel or motel room, a caravan, an office or a shop;
• when you join or visit a registered club ­— this is a club that sells alcohol or has gambling machines.

• looks after the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act;
• teaches people about the Anti-Discrimination Act;
• listens to people’s problems with discrimination and tries to help solve them;
• advises the NSW Government about anti-discrimination issues.