Training, Education and Development

Effective anti-discrimination training

Effective anti-discrimination training is good practice and good for business.

The Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 ('the Act') requires employers to create a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. All organisations in Tasmania, regardless of size, must adhere to the Act.

Employers, supervisors/managers, and employees (including casuals, contract workers, part-time and/or full-time and volunteers) all need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities.

A discrimination free workplace helps:

  • increase your pool of potential employees so you get the best person for the job
  • build the morale and productivity of your employees
  • minimise complaints, disruptions and legal wrangles so you can get on with work
  • build your reputation in the community

Section 104 of the Act states that organisations must ensure their members, officers, employees and agents are made aware of the discrimination and prohibited conduct to which the Act relates. If an organisation does not take reasonable steps to do this, it is liable for any contravention of the Act.

Meeting your obligations

Training is an important way to ensure staff are aware of discrimination and prohibited conduct. Whether training has occurred may be taken into account when determining if your organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent members, officers, employees or agents from engaging in discrimination and prohibited conduct. However, training alone does not absolve your organisation from the responsibilities under section 104.

To assist your organisation meet its obligations under the Anti-Discrimination Act, please refer to the guide below.

Equal Opportunity: a workplace guide for employers in Tasmania (PDF, 697.5 KB)

Online Training with Equal Opportunity Tasmania

Our Trainers are available to do online training for Workplaces, Community Groups, Schools and Exemptions. Our Training, Development and Education Officer's will consult with you regarding your specific training needs. Programs can be tailored with content specifically catering to the needs of your organisation.

The online training sessions use Zoom and are live and interactive, participants require access to a desktop or laptop computer with a good internet connection.

Face-to-face training

To keep participants safe, we are adhering to Public Health Advice regarding our face-to-face training, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your requirements so we can give you the most up to-date information regarding our availability.

Contact us

For further information on our training programs, please go to our training page on this website www.equalopportunity.tas.gov.au/training

Our training team welcome questions and booking enquiries.

Phone: (03) 6165 7515
Email: training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

Training Courses available

Equal Opportunity Tasmania Training Program 2022

Equal Opportunity training is good for Business!

We are available to do Training for Workplaces, Community Groups, Schools and Exemption applicants. Our Training, Development and Education Officer will consult with you regarding your specific training needs. Programs can be tailored with content specifically catering to the needs of your organisation/ business.

The following courses are available to be delivered in your workplace, please contact our Training team for more information on training delivered or for booking enquiries:

Call: (03) 6165 7515
Email: training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

Workplace Behaviour – Where is the Line?

Many people are struggling to know what is appropriate workplace behaviour. This course is recommended for everyone in organisations that may need reminders about workplace behaviour, the course includes activities.

This 2.5 hour course will cover:

  • An overview of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas
  • What does discrimination mean
  • Respectful workplaces
  • The role of Equal Opportunity Tasmania
  • What is their personal 'below-the-line' behaviour
  • What is their workplace's below-the-line behaviour
  • How to proactively avoid crossing the workplace line, and
  • Positive steps to take when the line is crossed
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Racism – defining, recognising and dealing with it

Race is the basis of one’s identity; it defines who we are through our connections to language, cultural practices and beliefs, food, dance, religion, family, cultural and family obligations, history and place. Ignorance of these fundamentals can lead to negative stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. This course will define and assist you to understand what racism is and how to recognise racist behaviours and attitudes; it will include discussion and activities on how to deal with racism. This course is recommended for everyone and includes activities.

This 3 x hour course will cover:

  • Define it – what racism looks like? And what racism sounds like?
  • Recognise it - Effects of racism on a person
  • Deal with it - How we can address racism?
  • Group Activity
  • What the law says about race discrimination
  • Benefits of a racially diverse workplace and society
  • Our shared human rights, responsibilities and actions for change
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Discrimination Law: Rights and Responsibilities

Effective anti-discrimination strategies in your workplace are good practice and good for business.  All businesses in Tasmania, regardless of their size, must adhere to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas. All staff including volunteers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. This course is recommended for everyone

This 2.5 hour course will cover:

  • An overview of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas
  • What does discrimination mean
  • Respectful workplaces
  • The role of Equal Opportunity Tasmania
  • Stereotypes / bias
  • Workplace Diversity
  • Protected attributes
  • Direct and indirect discrimination
  • Harassment (including bullying), sexual harassment, other prohibited conduct including victimisation and incitement to hatred
  • Rights and responsibilities for all employees
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Young, old, in-between… Is your workplace age inclusive?

Increasing your awareness of the benefits of an age diverse workplace will help you to respect all ages and generations. Protecting people’s rights within the workplace regardless of age is good practice and good for business. This course is recommended for everyone.

This 2 hour course will cover:

  • Generational stereotypes and the link to prejudice and discrimination
  • What the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tassays about age discrimination
  • Rights and responsibilities for all employees
  • Awareness of age diversity, preventing age discrimination and the benefits of an age diverse workplace. Including looking at workplaces that promote cultural diversity, Aboriginal and Torres Islander diversity and culture & LGBTIQ+ awareness.
  • Activities and discussion on how to improve workplace diversity.
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Disability Awareness – Is your workplace disability ready?

Valuing all employees in your workplace is good practice and good for business and the principles of employment are the same for people with disability as those without disability. This course is recommended for everyone.

This 2 hour course will cover:

  • Respectful workplaces
  • How stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination and bias
  • Overview of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas
  • What the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tassays about disability discrimination
  • Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010
  • Rights and responsibilities for all employees
  • Inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments in employment
  • Preventing disability discrimination and the benefits of a diverse workplace.
  • Awareness of disability diversity, preventing disability discrimination and the benefits of a diverse workplace. Including looking at workplaces that promote cultural diversity, Aboriginal and Torres Islander diversity and culture & LGBTIQ+ awareness.
  • Discussion, activities and statistics
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Sexual Harassment – what it is, what it’s not and what to do about it

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome contact, sexualised comments (including jokes), leering, distributing or displaying rude or sexually explicit or suggestive or offensive materials, sexual gestures, unwelcome comments or questions about a person’s private life.  Under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 sexual harassment is unlawful and a person who is sexually harassed can make a complaint. This course is recommended for everyone and includes activities

This 2.5 x hour course will cover:

  • What the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 says about sexual harassment
  • What sexual harassment looks like?
  • Examples of case law
  • Statistical data – complaints  -Tasmania / Nationally
  • The effects of sexual harassment – individually and for the organisation
  • Basic principles and tools for effectively preventing and responding to sexual harassment
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Workplace Support Contact Officer Training

Workplace Support Contact Officers (WSCO’s) are an important first contact for people who believe they have a grievance in the workplace. The grievance may relate to bullying, harassment, discrimination, or other workplace issues. This course is recommended for new employees who require information and training on the role of the Workplace Support Contact Officer in the workplace.

This 8 x hour course will cover:

  • The role of Workplace Support Contact Officer in line with their employer’s policy
  • The principles underlying the role of the Contact Officer
  • Putting the principles into practice.
  • An Overview of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tasand other relevant legislation
  • This course includes scenarios and activities
  • Course is run over two x half days (8 x hours in total)
  • In house training  for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Workplace Support Contact Officer Refresher Course

Has it been some time since you last attended Workplace Support Contact Officer (WSCO) Training?  Have you had many opportunities to actively practice the role of Workplace Support Contact Officer? If you already have a good understanding of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tasmania) and have previously attended Workplace Support Contact Officer Training this 4 x hour course will ‘refresh’ your knowledge and give you the opportunity to take part in role-plays, look at case studies and brainstorm ideas.

This 4 hour course will cover:

  • The role of Workplace Support Contact Officer in line with your employers' policy
  • Putting the principles into practice
  • How stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination
  • An Overview of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tasand other relevant legislation
  • This course includes scenarios and activities
  • In house training  for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Workplace Support Contact Officer Networking Meeting

FREE Networking meetings are held to give Workplace Support Contact Officers (WSCO’s) in different organisations the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences and information with others in a similar role.

The 3 x hour networking meeting will also provide an excellent opportunity to catch up on any amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas and changes to procedures.

All those who have been trained by Equal Opportunity Tasmania in the role of Contact Officer are eligible and invited to attend. Once registered, participants will be able to e-mail any questions or issues for discussion at the meeting.

Managers supporting Workplace Support Contact Officers – Making your job easier

This is a free 1 hour seminar to assist managers to better understand and use their Workplace Support Contact Officers (WSCOs) to the organisation’s advantage. WSCOs are an excellent workplace resource when used correctly, this seminar will cover:

  • Why do you have WSCOs?
  • Understanding the WSCO role
  • Trouble shooting – does your WSCO network work well – why?  - Why not?
  • Tools and suggestions to assist
  • The seminar content is flexible and will be adapted to the requirements of individual management teams

Recruitment and Selection

The course builds on your knowledge of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas. It will cover what the law says about discrimination in recruitment and selection, best practice and how to avoid discrimination at each stage of the recruitment and selection process.

This 3.5 hour course will cover:

  • What are ‘inherent requirements’ and why they are important?
  • “How do I ensure my position descriptions and job application forms meet
  • Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 Tas requirements?”
  • Unconscious bias- Unpack what this means in our employment practices
  • “Can I ask applicants to undergo a medical test before offering them the job?”
  • “When placing a job advertisement in the paper, can I specify the age of the person I want to employ?”
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Addressing and preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace for managers and supervisors

Discrimination and harassment is recognised as one of the major contributors to workplace stress. Employers have a responsibility to provide a workplace free from these behaviours. As a manager / supervisor you have a key role to play in preventing and dealing with workplace discrimination and harassment. This workshop will provide you with ideas and strategies for preventing discrimination and harassment together with the confidence to deal effectively with issues should they arise.

.This 4 hour course will cover:

  • Overview of the Anti- Discrimination Act 1998 Tas
  • Respectful workplaces
  • Your workplace policies
  • How stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination
  • The power of language
  • Bullying & sexual harassment
  • Diversity
  • Relevant legislation
  • The costs of discrimination and harassment
  • Responding to discrimination and harassment
  • Building teams / communication
  • This course includes scenarios and activities
  • In house training for your business or organisation $290 per hour
  • Group minimum of 4 x participants - maximum participants x 18
  • We provide resources and posters / brochures

Contact us

Our training team welcome questions and booking enquiries –

Call: (03) 6165 7515
Email: training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

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Training Fee Policy

Fee policy for training 2022

  • Workplace Training - Fee of $290 per hour (Fees do not include GST)
  • Requirements for onsite training – Available training room / tables / chairs / white board / toilets / tea and coffee facilities and a copy of your COVID Work Health and Safety Plan.
  • Online Training - The training sessions are live and interactive through the use of Zoom / Ms Teams. Each attendee requires access to a desktop or laptop computer with a good internet connection, microphone and speakers.

Cost includes:

  • All preparation and presentation – content may be tailored to your individual organisation
  • Handouts for all participants
  • Recommended size for each training session is 4 – 18 participants

*Accommodation and travel charges may apply.

Calendar training

Fee of $60 per person, per hour to deliver calendar training at Equal Opportunity Tasmania Level 1, 54 Victoria Street Hobart and other sites for the training in Launceston & Devonport or online.

Cancellation policy:

If you are not able to attend a seminar, another representative from your organisation is welcome. However, if no-one is able to attend cancellation fees are as follows:

  • Within 1 week of date of training: full fee payable
  • Between 1 and 2 weeks of date of training: 50% payable
  • If confirmed training is postponed with less than 2 weeks’ notice from date of training, a rearrangement fee of 20% of total consultancy fee may be charged.

School student talks

School student talks

The training team at Equal Opportunity Tasmania works co-operatively with schools, colleges and other educational institutions to provide a range of FREE information sessions. Presentations to students on issues relating to discrimination, harassment and bullying can assist schools to develop their capacity to:

  • accept and embrace diversity
  • celebrate and respect differences
  • promote non-discriminatory practices
  • empower those groups who are most likely to experience discrimination, harassment and bullying

Our talks are designed for students from Grade 4 upwards. We can work with the school to design programs using Kahoot that are age appropriate and engaging for students. For higher grade levels we can tailor the sessions for your school / college.

Topics covered in sessions depending on the grade level of students are:

  • Diversity
  • Respect and kindness
  • Stereotypes – prejudice - discrimination
  • Types of bullying including cyber-bullying
  • Bystanders behaviour
  • What to do if it happens to you or you see it
  • Equal Opportunity Tasmania and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998
  • Victimisation, inciting hatred and sexual harassment
  • Discrimination in employment
  • Rights and responsibilities

“Equal Opportunity was a valuable learning session for our students.  The content discussed by the facilitator was age appropriate and thought provoking.  Information from the seminar has direct the Australian Curriculum and fits perfectly within the Department of Education’s respectful schools framework and cross-curricular priorities.  The seminar could be used as a one off talk to a class or embedded within a teaching and learning unit with a particular focus on the area being studied.  Presentations would be relevant for all age groups.  Thanks to the team at Equal Opportunity, we really valued your presentations and will be in touch for further presentations next year!”

New Norfolk High School

Online information sessions

We are available to do online information sessions for schools, Colleges, TAFE and Universities. The online information sessions use Zoom/ Ms Teams and are live and interactive, participants require access to a desktop or laptop computer with a good internet connection.

Face-to-face information sessions

To keep participants safe, we are adhering to Public Health Advice regarding our face-to-face training, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your requirements so we can give you the most up to-date information regarding our availability.

For further information or to organise a talk for your school /college contact the training team on (03) 6165 7515 or e-mail training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

Community information sessions

Community information sessions

The training team at Equal Opportunity Tasmania liaises with not-for-profit community organisations, community groups, unions and other interested individuals to provide a 1 hour FREE information session.

Online information sessions

We are available to do online information sessions for Community Groups. The online information sessions use Zoom / Ms Teams and are live and interactive, participants require access to a desktop or laptop computer with a good internet connection

Face-to-face information sessions

Community information sessions, workshops and engagement forums aim to promote non-discriminatory practices and empower those groups who are most likely to experience discrimination and harassment. Sessions can be designed to focus on a range of human rights issues such as those affecting:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • People with disabilities
  • Culturally Diverse groups / communities
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities
  • Young people
  • Older people
  • Gender

To keep participants safe, we are adhering to Public Health Advice regarding our face-to-face training, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your requirements.

For further information or to organise an information session, contact us on (03) 6165 7515 or e-mail training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

Podcasts

Podcasts

Podcast about Racism and COVID-19

Exploring how COVID-19 is impacting people’s lives, and leading to discrimination in ways we didn’t predict or want. What types of racist conduct is unlawful under the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act? May 2020.

A transcript of this podcast can be downloaded. (PDF, 41.7 KB)

Podcast about COVID-19 and discrimination - Your rights and responsibilities

Exploring some of the discrimination issues that might come up about the COVID-19 pandemic, and knowing your rights and responsibilities. May 2020.

A transcript of this podcast can be downloaded. (PDF, 99.8 KB)

Podcast about reporting abuse and/or harassment in Tasmania

How to report incidents of abuse and/or harassment you have experienced or witnessed. May 2020.

A transcript of this podcast can be downloaded. (PDF, 150.6 KB)

Podcast for Employees

Coronavirus – vulnerable employees identified. Knowing your legal rights and responsibilities as an employee under Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act. May 2020.

A transcript of this podcast can be downloaded. (PDF, 142.0 KB)

Podcast for Employers

Coronavirus – vulnerable employees identified. Knowing your legal responsibilities as an employer under Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act. May 2020.

A transcript of this podcast can be downloaded. (PDF, 141.1 KB)

Contact the Training, Education and Development team

Contact the Training, Education and Development team

The Training, Education and Development team can be contacted via the following:

phone Phone: (03) 6165 7515

email training@equalopportunity.tas.gov.au