Human rights

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. 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 respects, protects and promotes human rights in the Department of Education.

Protect—safeguard human rights through our everyday actions, decisions, services, and systems.

Promote—encourage a dialogue about human rights through education, resources and reporting.

Our focus

Our objectives

• Promote access to education and the needs of every student.
• Enhance a culture of respect that promotes inclusive, diverse, healthy and productive education and work environments.
• Support culturally safe environments, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  
• Improve outcomes by putting people first in decision-making and working with our staff, students and community.

Our approach

Define how existing systems and culture respects, protects and promotes human rights.

Strengthen the approach to human rights 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

Read our progress in developing a human rights culture in 2019–20 in the Department of Education’s response to the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner’s request for information, developing a human rights culture in the Department of Education.

Queensland’s Human Rights poster (A3)

​ Human Rights in Education animations​ (transcript​): 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 (transcript): This video uses examples to assist you in understanding how human rights should be integrated into decision-making processes.