PRACTICAL ISSUES Even before you lodge a complaint there are some key factors which you should
consider. These may mean the difference between winning or losing your case. 1. Your Health People who experience discrimination sometimes overlook that they may need
medical attention or counselling. If your experiences are causing stress or other illness, you should see a
doctor at once. When you see a doctor, you should also be as clear as possible
about the discrimination you have suffered. Apart from assisting you in coping with your stress or other problems,
treatment by such people is also important because later on, the notes they take
and their recollection of your case may be useful evidence. 2. Record Your Experiences Take your own notes of your experiences. The best time to take notes is as soon as possible after you have had a bad
experience. This is because, as time passes, your memory may not be as good as
it was just after the incident. These notes may later be useful in providing evidence of what happened, in
jogging your memory and in assisting a lawyer to decide if you have a good case. 3. Tell Someone Consider telling your problems to another person – whether that person is
your union representative, a doctor, a social worker, a friend or a family
member. By telling another person, you start to deal with the problem. The
person you tell may also be able to give useful evidence, should it later become
necessary. 4. Check Time Limits Check whether time is running out for you to make a claim – in general, a
claim should be made within twelve months of the discriminatory act occurring.
However, if a termination of employment is involved, you may have only 21 days
to take action under certain industrial laws. (see Rights Under Other Laws). RIGHTS UNDER OTHER LAWS This material only covers what your rights are, under laws made by the
Australian Parliament, under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, in cases of
discrimination or disability harassment. Find-a-Lawyer experienced in
Employment Law. DISCLAIMER This Information Outline is available courtesy of AussieLegal’s
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