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Women's rights

Everyone deserves fair treatment – but women often face unfair treatment because of their sex and assumptions about their abilities due to outdated gender stereotypes. Women are also more likely to be sexually harassed than men, which can prevent them from participating fully in paid work or public life. There are laws in Victoria to protect people from discrimination and sexual harassment, and to ensure that everyone can contribute meaningfully to society.

A woman in athletic gear stretches before a run

Photo by Stage 7 Photography on Unsplash

Topics

Flexible work

Gender identity

Marital status

Parent and carer status

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Profession, trade or occupation

Recruitment and designated roles

Returning to work

Right to recognition and equality before the law

Sex discrimination

Sexual harassment

Key stats

15.5%

is the gender pay gap in Australia

Workplace Gender Equality Agency

Stories

Noura's story

"The boss told me that he had only hired me because he thought I was good looking. It came as a real surprise because, up until then, he had seemed to genuinely value my work."

Deborah's story

"When I asked him to explain his comments, he didn’t really have any basis for this concern except that I was a woman and that driving a bus was, in his eyes, ‘man’s work’. He insisted I’d have to stay on the lower training wage until I’d proven myself."

Faiza's story

"When my manager started to bring up photos of me he’d seen or comments I’d made online, well, that’s when I started to feel uncomfortable. He was an OK guy, but he was way older than me and it just felt like a real power imbalance."

Understanding the difference between reasonable adjustments and flexible work

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Address
Melbourne Victoria 3000

General enquiries
enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Enquiry line
1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583

Interpreters
1300 152 494

NRS Voice Relay
1300 555 727 then use 1300 292 153

Media enquiries
1300 292 153

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We also work remotely and serve communities on the lands of other Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission recognises the injustice resulting from the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples’ territories and the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s findings of genocide, crimes against humanity and denial of freedoms.