Equal Service

Watch the Equal Service: Homelessness Myths & Memories animations

In 2006 and 2007, the Department of Justice conducted a project entitled Equal Service. The purpose of this project was to confront the issue of discrimination on the basis of homelessness by developing a series of voluntary guidelines and educational tools for accommodation and goods and services providers who regularly interact with homeless people. To access the Equal Service guidelines click here.

As a part of the Equal Service project, the HPLC and members of its Consumer Advisory Group worked with the Department of Justice to produce a series of animations entitled Homelessness: Myths and Memories. The animations form part of the educational component of the project and tell the stories of individuals who have experienced homelessness. The animations can be viewed here.

In late 2006, the Attorney-General initiated an independent review of the Act, and consider ways to improve its fairness, effectiveness and efficiency. In its submissions to the independent review, the HPLC argued that the Act be amended to include social status (homelessness, unemployment and receipt of social security benefits). The HPLC also argued that criminal record discrimination should also be outlawed.

The final report of the Equal Opportunity Act Review was handed down on 31 July 2008. Importantly, the final report recommended that homelessness and ‘irrelevant criminal record' be included as protected attributes under the new proposed Victorian Equality Act. While the review did not accept the HPLC's submission that the broader attribute of social status be included, we consider the two proposed attributes to be an excellent starting point and will be advocating for their inclusion in any new equality legislation in Victoria.

Related Articles 

Back to top