The Queensland
Human Rights Act 2019
The
Human Rights Act 2019 (the Act) protects the freedom, equality and dignity of every person in Queensland. The Act respects, protects and promotes human rights, and also puts people first by making sure the public sector thinks about human rights when they make decisions and deliver services.
Human rights in education
We celebrate human rights and support the Queensland Government’s
Human Rights Strategy (PDF, 120KB). The Department of Education
Human Rights Framework outlines the department’s commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in everyday decisions and actions. Our approach reflects the duties and protections enshrined within the Act.
Our commitment
We will contribute to a modern, fair and responsive Queensland by respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in everything we do:
Respect—build a culture that values and respects the human rights of every individual in Queensland.
Protect—safeguard human rights through our everyday actions, decisions, services, and systems.
Promote—encourage a dialogue about human rights and their critical importance in supporting our strategic objectives.
Our values
- We respect everybody’s human rights—staff, children, students and members of the community.
- We do our best to act and make decisions that are compatible with human rights, but may limit rights if there is a good reason.
- We all have a role in respecting, protecting and promoting human rights.
- We know thinking about human rights helps us to make better decisions and deliver better services.
Our objectives
- Promote access to education that meets the needs of every child and student.
- Value staff, student, family and community knowledge and cultures in our approach to teaching and learning.
- Enhance a culture of respect that promotes inclusive, diverse, healthy and productive education and work environments.
- Recognise and support the distinct cultural rights held by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Improve outcomes by putting people first in decision-making and working collaboratively with our staff, students, families and community.
Our approach
Strengthen our human rights approach by lifting capability, awareness and accountability.
Embed systems, structures and education that supports everybody to act and make decisions that are compatible with human rights.
Sustain a culture that respects, protects and promotes human rights through review and continuous improvement.
Resources
Department of Education—Inclusive education
The Department of Education's
inclusive education policy outlines our continuing journey towards a more inclusive system at policy and regional levels, and as part of our everyday practice in schools, educational settings and classrooms. Visit the
inclusive education page for more information.
Department of Education—Aware. Protective. Safe. strategy
The department’s
Aware. Protective. Safe. strategy reinforces our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and identifies how we are building on our existing child safe environment by implementing the national principles for child safe organisations. The national principles for child safe organisations align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC)
The
QHRC is an independent statutory statutory body working to promote human rights in a number of ways. Their role includes resolving human rights complaints, delivering training and promoting public discussion on human rights. The QHRC and the Commissioner have functions and powers under the Act.
Queensland Government human rights
The Queensland Government is committed to human rights. Whole-of-Government human rights resources, tools and training opportunities are found on the
comply with the Human Rights Act page.
National Office for Child Safety
The
National Office for Child Safety (the National Office) provides national leadership, working across governments and sectors, to deliver national policies and strategies to enhance children’s safety and reduce future harm to children.
Publications
Queensland’s Human Rights poster (A3)
Human Rights in Education animations: This video will help you to understand how you can uphold human rights to ensure the rights of yourself and others are respected, protected and promoted.
Human Rights and decision-making animation: This video uses examples to assist you in understanding how human rights should be integrated into decision-making processes.