Basic Rights Queensland

WE'RE HIRING! Three exciting opportunities to join our team are available now. Use your skills and community connections to bridge access to justice gaps for the LGBTIQA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy community in Queensland, and enjoy a diverse and dynamic mix of work in an inclusive and affirming workplace. Join our team in Kurilpa (South Brisbane) or our new Principal Solicitor on Darumbal Country (Rockhampton). As a statewide service we care deeply about providing service access and employment opportunities to community members right across Queensland - if you live in a rural or regional area please reach out to discuss options. Applications close midnight Sunday 12 January. More information via Ethical Jobs. Paralegal / Peer navigator job: https://lnkd.in/giWnRihN Lawyer / Senior Lawyer job: https://lnkd.in/g6qvSWA3 IMAGE DESCRIPTION: two photos on a yellow background with bright pink text. The photos are of existing team members: the first images is of two people laughing. The second image is of three people smiling, the person in the middle is holding a bright bunch of red and yellow flowers. image text reads "JOIN OUR TEAM. LGBTI Legal Service is hiring for the following roles: * paralegal / peer navigator * lawyer / senior lawyer LOCATION: Brisbane and Rockhampton. Applicants from regional Qld welcome. Flexible working options available 

At Basic Rights Queensland, we see firsthand how financial abuse traps individuals in cycles of poverty, debt, and dependency—undermining their ability to access housing, education, employment, and social security. The recent Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services report, “Financial Abuse: An Insidious Form of Domestic Violence,” exposes the systemic nature of financial abuse and its disproportionate impact on women, people with disabilities, culturally diverse communities, and older Australians. The report’s recommendations—spanning law reform, financial system protections, and Centrelink debt waivers—align with our advocacy priorities: ✅ Supporting victim-survivors to regain economic independence ✅ Addressing systemic debts caused by coercion and abuse ✅ Advocating for stronger protections in workplaces, financial systems, and social security As we continue to fight for economic justice, we remain committed to amplifying the voices of those impacted by financial abuse and driving systemic change. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ggHcpZ6B

With Economic Justice Australia, we welcome Minister Murray Watt's announcement of an improved complaints model for Australia's employment services. By addressing longstanding flaws, this improved complaints process should provide an opportunity to rebuild trust in the system, empower vulnerable communities, and ensure affected people's voices are heard and their rights respected.

We are wrapping up the year with a Christmas party to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our incredible team. Together, we’ve made a real impact, providing vital legal, industrial and social supports to those who need it most. Huge thanks to everyone for your commitment and teamwork—looking forward to what we’ll achieve in the year ahead! Big shout-out to our CEO James Farrell for embracing the dress up... can't wait to see the costume next year! 🎅

We are proud to have recently supported the Japan Community of Queensland's Power Nadeshiko Women’s Empowerment Project. The project is dedicated to empowering Japanese women living in Queensland who are experiencing domestic and sexual violence, while also connecting them with the vital support services they need. Our team at Working Women Queensland have been honored to play a role. Check out the video below with our own Tneka Springett - highlighting the services we provide and how we can help women experiencing adverse treatment at work. https://lnkd.in/gbV8jVjD

With other Economic Justice Australia members, we welcome today’s announcement of sweeping reforms to Centrepay by the Australian Government. These changes mark a major step toward eliminating financial abuse and predatory business practices within the system. Key wins include: ✅ Prohibiting never-ending deductions (except for housing and energy costs) ✅ Stronger compliance mechanisms to hold businesses accountable ✅ Improved complaints handling for better customer protections ✅ A commitment to ongoing improvements and consumer feedback integration Most changes will take effect in July 2025, with EJA closely involved to ensure a smooth transition. 👏 Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this reform journey. Let’s keep pushing for fairer systems and better protections! #AdvocacyWorks #EconomicJustice #CentrepayReforms #FinancialProtection

In 2023-24, frontline domestic and family violence prevention and response made up 40-50% of the community legal sector's work nationally. For rural, remote, and very remote centres, this rises to 70-80%. Check out our new report, 'More than legal services: Preventing crises, strengthening communities' now: https://clcs.org.au/sots/ #CommunityLaw #SaveCommunityLegalCentres #FundEqualJustice

🎉 What a fantastic week celebrating the QCOSS Community Impact Awards! With finalists in not one, but TWO categories, we were thrilled to join so many inspiring champions and advocates from across Queensland’s civil society. 💪🌟 A huge congratulations to all the incredible winners and nominees—your work is truly uplifting! 🏆✨ Check out their amazing stories here: https://lnkd.in/gUFeWt2A We’re so proud to be part of this powerful movement, standing together to support Queenslanders doing it tough. 💜 #CommunityImpact #TeamQLD

On Friday, we hosted lawyers and advocates to discuss current issues in anti-discrimination law at our INTERSECTIONS CPD event. Thanks to our informed and engaging panellists: Jane Vasey (Queensland Human Rights Commission), Shaun Chng (Clayton Utz), Bridget Burton (UQ Law School), to Aunty Dawn for her warm Welcome to Country, and to our own 'Sam' Simon Tracy for MCing the event. It was a privilege to bring together such a dedicated, intelligent, and driven group of advocates for an afternoon filled with learning, collaboration, and meaningful networking. Events like this remind us of the power of collective action in driving positive change. #AntiDiscriminationLaw #Education #Networking #Advocacy

Our friends at LGBTI Legal Service Inc. and QTWAV have released an important discussion paper that explores how LGBTIQASB+ Queenslanders are represented across a decade of government strategies and action plans addressing domestic, family and sexual violence and gender equality. The report recommends ensuring the perspectives of LGBTIQASB+ Queenslanders and specialist community sector organisations are harnessed to identify and redress gaps in legislation, policy, sector development, and service design and delivery.