The Human Rights Law Resource Centre is a leading national community legal centre.
‘The HRLRC is an outstanding organisation with a reputation for consistently delivering excellent results, particularly through the innovative use of resources and partnerships.’
– Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director, Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic)
The Centre promotes and protects human rights in Australia. We contribute to the alleviation of poverty and disadvantage, and the promotion of equality and fair treatment.
‘The Centre works tirelessly to protect the right to equality for people subjected to systemic or compounded discrimination or disadvantage. It does this not just through casework but by taking a thought leadership position in the areas of strategic litigation, law reform work and capacity building. It also operates in an innovative manner by partnering with other organisations whose skills and resources add to the specialist skills of the Centre. This results in outcomes that have much greater reach and impact.’
– Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination, Australian Human Rights Commission
The Centre achieves this by undertaking a strategic combination of policy advocacy, litigation, education and capacity building.
‘The Centre’s work in the area of human rights litigation is unparalleled in Australia.’
– Nicolas Patrick, Pro Bono Partner, DLA Phillips Fox
We work collaboratively with key partners, including commercial law firms and barristers, community legal centres, university law schools, and other human rights organisations.
‘The HRLRC has made an enormous impact on human rights in Australia since its inception just over three years ago.
When it was set up, the HRLRC filled an important gap in the Australian human rights landscape; it provides direct legal services to individuals in need, undertakes innovative advocacy projects and publishes vital human rights resources.’
– Professor Sarah Joseph, Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
On 10 December 2009, the Centre was conferred with a High Commendation by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Law Council of Australia. The citation stated that the Centre was recognised for its ‘efforts to overcome discrimination and promote equality through the practice of law’ and as an ‘organisation which consistently demonstrated an unreserved commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia’.
The Centre was formally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in January 2006 with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) and Liberty Victoria as the initial members. PILCH is an independent community legal centre that facilitates the provision of pro bono legal services to marginalised and disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities. Liberty Victoria is an incorporated association whose activities include human rights-focused community and professional legal education, law reform, lobbying and advocacy.
The Centre has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a public benefit institution attracting deductible gift recipient status.
