Discrimination law and human rights at work

This unit will examine topics such as the rights of the disabled at work, the rights of older workers, compulsory retirement age, flexible working practices, the right to return to work/part time work from maternity leave, sex, race and other types of discrimination at the workplace, right not to be sexually harassed at work, and the right to join, or not join, a trade union.This unit studies Federal and Victorian legislation which have brought into the workplace anti-discrimination rights issues explored by international human rights covenants and conventions. The unit investigates issues including whether human rights are inherent; the social, industrial and legal context of anti-discrimination law; the historical development of anti-discrimination statutes in the Federal and Victorian systems; the use of the external affairs Constitutional power; how well the legislation protects human rights in the workplace; values, culture, equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and affirmative action; the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and Victorian and Federal law reform; and the impact of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) on workplace discrimination and freedom of association.