Bullying online or at school
Our lawyers may be able to help you if you have experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation, or racial or religious vilification in areas such as:
- education
- employment (including partnerships and contractors)
- buying or selling goods or services
- accommodation
- clubs and sporting activities
- working as a volunteer
- treatment by local councils, governments and organisations providing public services
- entry to shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
In some cases, we may be able to negotiate, make a complaint, or take legal action in a court or tribunal.
We do not provide general employment advice and we do not help people to defend complaints of discrimination that have been made against them.
We also do not help people with complaints about bullying, unless it is linked to discrimination.
Who else can help
Legal services
The Disability Discrimination Legal gives free legal advice and assistance to anyone who wants to make a complaint about being discriminated against on the grounds of their disability.
The AED Legal gives free legal advice and assistance to people with a disability in the areas of employment, education and training.
Villamanta Disability Rights Legal is a Victorian community legal centre located in Geelong that helps with disability related legal issues. They mostly help people who have an intellectual disability.
is an employment rights legal centre which provides legal assistance to Victorian workers. They can give you free, confidential telephone information and referrals about work rights.
Fair Work Commission
If you reasonably believe that you have been bullied at work and the bullying is continuing you may apply to the Fair Work for an order to stop the bullying. The commission must start dealing with your application within 14 days. They will investigate the complaint and may make orders they think are necessary to prevent the bullying from happening again.
Find out more about what you can do about bullying and discrimination at work.
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
If you are under 18 and have experienced cyberbullying, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Children’s eSafety . They will assess your complaint and decide whether to investigate or take some other action.
They also have a list of social media services' safety where you can report abuse or content that you find offensive.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission enquiry line can provide information to people about discrimination before they choose to make a complaint.
Call the enquiry line on 1300 292 153 or visit the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission's .
Making a complaint about discrimination
Discrimination law is complex. It can be confusing knowing where to go to make a complaint. There are often several options available, such as complaining to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission or the Australian Human Rights Commission or the Fair Work Commission (the workplace relations tribunal).
If you complain to one place, sometimes you cannot later change your mind and complain elsewhere. It is best to call us or speak to one of the services listed on this page to get legal advice before lodging a complaint.
However, if you want to speak directly to a human rights commission or industrial tribunal about making a complaint you can contact:
- the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights (Victorian law)
- the Australian Human Rights Commission Complaints (Commonwealth law)
- Fair Work (Commonwealth workplace law).
Resources about bullying
These resources will help you understand more about:
- discrimination and victimisation
- sexual harassment
- bullying.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website has information about:
- what is, the common types of discrimination and how to make a complaint to the commission
- sex , including examples of conduct that is against the law and how to make a complaint
- pregnancy and breastfeeding , how to respond to it and make a complaint
- gender , lawful sexual , sexual discrimination and how to make a complaint
- age , what you can do if you believe you have been discriminated against or treated unfairly because of your age
- parent or carer status , what you can do and how to make a complaint
- race , what you can do if you have been discriminated against because of your race, or what race they assume you are
- preventing discrimination in the for employers and employees
- sexual including what you can do and how to make a complaint
- victimisation in the , the rights of employees who have made a discrimination complaint and believe they are being victimised by their employers
- workplace and what to do if you or someone at work is being bullied
- how the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act protects people from discrimination at
- expunged homosexual conviction , and what you can do if someone discriminates against you because of a homosexual conviction that has been removed from your criminal record
- racial and religious , what you can do if you have been vilified because of your race or religion.
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman website has information about:
- protection from discrimination at
- what is considered workplace bullying and , and how the Fair Work Commission can help if you are being bullied or harassed at work.
Fair Work Commission
The Fair Work Commission has information about:
- what workplace is and what the Fair Work Commission can do to help
- sexual harassment at and what you can do to stop this.
Young people and the police
If you are going to court for a criminal offence, and your court date is more than six days away, you can request help before court.
Our other free legal services include help at court. For some matters, we can also provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.
You can also contact us for free information about criminal offences and how we can help you.
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Your local community legal can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal (VALS) provides legal advice and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you are Koori and taken into custody, the police must tell VALS within one hour. You will get support and advice from one of their client services officers. They also have a 24-hour .
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral . All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and how much it will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.
Other services
If you have a cognitive disability, the Office of the Public can provide an independent third person to be with you at the police station while you are interviewed or during procedures such as the police taking body samples.
Complaints
See Complaints about police for organisations that can help you make a complaint if you feel you have not been treated fairly by the police.
Resources about young people and the police
These resources will help you understand:
- police powers in Victoria
- your rights
- what to do if you go to court.
Our free resources include:
- Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
- Drugs, the law and safer substance use
- Police powers: your rights in Victoria
- Your day in court.
See a list of all our free publications and .
We also have a video about police.
Resources from other organisations
Youthlaw
Youthlaw's website contains information about:
- Police powers and your rights on the , including searches, move-on or stay-away orders, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
- Police powers and your rights on , including your rights when under arrest by Police.
Youthlaw's Street Smart is a practical guide to knowing your rights on the streets and has information about police powers.
The Law Handbook
The Law Handbook from Fitzroy Legal Service contains information about:
Work if you're under 15
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Job provides legal assistance to Victorian workers. Job Watch can give you free, confidential telephone information and referrals about work rights.
Your local community legal can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
Complaints
The Fair Work investigates complaints or suspected breaches of workplace laws, awards and registered agreements and some Fair Work Commission orders. Sometimes, the Fair Work Ombudsman may take legal action to enforce workplace laws.
To make a complaint call the Fair Work Ombudsman .
Workplace rights
Trade unions can help their members with many employment issues, including questions about pay, unfair dismissals and workers’ compensation disputes.
See the Australian Council of Trade Unions .
WorkSafe Victoria
WorkSafe manages the workers compensation scheme and investigates breaches of occupational health and safety laws. There is information on their website about making a claim and returning to work after you are injured at work.
WorkCover is a free service provided by WorkSafe Victoria to help injured workers who have a WorkCover dispute with their employer. The staff will explain the conciliation process and will attend a conciliation conference to assist the employee.
Superannuation
Contact the Australian Tax Office's Superannuation Hotline on 131 020 for enquiries and services on superannuation.
Support for independent contractors
The Australian Government’s Business has information and resources about contractor rights and protections.
Our business and commercial issues topic also has useful information for independent contractors.
Resources about young people and work
These resources and publications have information to help you understand your employment rights as an employee or contractor in Victoria.
See a list of all our free publications and , including:
Resources from other organisations
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman can help with information about pay, employee entitlements, leave, ending employment and awards and agreements.
The Fair Work Ombudsman website has a range of to help employees and contractors. It also has fact sheets about minimum workplace entitlements in .
JobWatch
JobWatch can give you free and confidential phone information and referrals about your rights at work. You can contact them on (03) 9662 1933 if you are calling from a metropolitan area, or 1800 331 617 if you are calling from a regional area.
JobWatch has a range of information about employment rights.
The Law Handbook
Fitzroy Legal Service’s Law Handbook has information about:
WorkSafe
WorkSafe has publications and forms to help injured and to avoid workplace .
The WorkSafe website has information about:
- WorkSafe including returning to work for injured workers and information for employers about the claims process
- the compulsory WorkSafe for employers, which covers costs if your workers are injured or become ill at work
- the laws and that set out the responsibilities of employers and workers to maintain safety in the workplace.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Employee in the workplace and what to do if you think that you have been treated unfairly.
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority website has information about superannuation .
Underage drinking
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Your local community legal can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral . All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.
Help at court
Court Network support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. You can ring them before you go to court.
Resources about underage drinking
These resources will help you understand:
- criminal offences
- police powers in Victoria
- what to do if you go to court for criminal charges.
Our free publications:
- Your day in court
- Police powers: your rights in Victoria
- Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
- Drugs, the law and safer substance use.
See a list of all our free publications and .
We also have a video about police.
Resources from other organisations
The Youthlaw website containsinformation about young people, alcohol and the .
Youth allowance and payments for young people
You can call us or chat to us for free information about the law and how we can help you with your Centrelink problem.
Our lawyers may be able to help if you:
- are unsure about your rights or entitlements
- disagree with a Centrelink decision
- are being investigated for fraud or charged with a criminal offence.
For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.
Other organisations that can help
Social Security Rights Victoria
Social Security Rights is a community legal centre that provides assistance, including legal help, to people with social security problems.
Community legal centres
Your local community legal can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
Legal Aid Commissions (outside Victoria)
Your local legal aid can give you information and advice.
Economic Justice Australia
Economic Justice is a network of community legal centres throughout Australia that specialise in social security law.
Our resources about Centrelink
See a list of all our free publications and .
We also have a video on Centrelink debts.
Resources from other organisations
Economic Justice Australia
A range of fact sheets about Centrelink and social security matters are on the Economic Justice Australia .
Centrelink
Centrelink has online to help you estimate or compare various payments that you might get based on your circumstances.
The Services Australia website has information about Centrelink, including:
The Guide to Australian Government also has information about eligibility and payment rates for a wide range of Centrelink payments.
The Law Handbook
The Law Handbook from Fitzroy Legal Service has information about Centrelink payments and eligibility requirements:
Information for young people about child abuse and neglect
For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case. You may be eligible if you are a:
- child aged 10 or more
- parent or other person trying to have a child in your care.
Other organisations that can help
Independent Family Advocacy and Support
Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) provides non-legal advocacy and support to parents and primary carers.
You can contact them for free in Victoria on 1800 849 200:
- Monday 9 am to 12 pm
- Wednesday 1 pm to 4 pm
- Friday 9 am to 12 pm.
On the phone, they will tell you what services they can offer you.
Aboriginal legal services
If you or your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can choose to access an Aboriginal legal service directly. Or, you can tell us that you want to be referred to one of the following services:
- Victorian Aboriginal Legal – phone 1800 064 865
- (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women only) – phone 1800 105 303.
Help for young people
Kids Helpline is a free, confidential and anonymous counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25. You can speak to a counsellor on the phone at any time of the day by calling 1800 551 800.
Visit the Kids Help Line if you don't feel comfortable talking to someone over the phone, or if you can't get to a phone. Counselling is also available at certain times of the day, and by email. If you need help urgently, the telephone is the fastest way of getting to a counsellor.
More information
- Get help with family violence and child protection.
- Get help with parenting arrangements and child contact.
How we can help
Contact us for free information about the law and how we can help you. If we can't help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
- Speak to us over the phone or using our online chat
- Help in your language
- Support if you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone
Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.
We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 17 January 2023