Advocacy
Human rights law

Human rights

Human rights law

Overview

Our Human Rights Law service provides specialist legal assistance to vulnerable people with disability in Queensland.  

The work of our solicitors is guided by a human rights framework which aims to protect and promote the fundamental human rights of our clients. 

What we do

Our solicitors may assist with:   

  • Advice and representation for guardianship (including Restrictive Practices) and administration applications and reviews for people with questioned or impaired decision-making capacity (including separate representative appointments)*
  • Advice and representation for people who have experienced disability discrimination
  • Advice and representation for people who feel their human rights, as protected by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), have been breached by a public entity
  • Advice about Enduring Powers of Attorney, Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives, for the person making, reviewing or revoking the appointment)**
  • Advice, representation and transitional planning work for people under a Forensic Order (Disability)
  • Legal representation for people appearing as a witness before or providing evidence to the Disability Royal Commission, on referral from National Legal Aid.

*Generally, advice on Guardianship and Administration is only provided where recent medical evidence is available (not more than 6 months old).

**QAI’s Human Rights Law does not draft documents for these matters. 

Who we assist

Our solicitors can assist people who have:

  • An intellectual disability and/or cognitive impairments (including ABI)
  • A dual diagnosis of intellectual disability/cognitive impairment plus mental illness  
  • A profound mental illness
  • A profound physical disability
  • Other vulnerabilities causing severe disadvantage including:
    • Cultural and linguistically diverse people
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
    • People with low socio-economic status
    • People living in closed environments
    • People in regional or remote area

The extent of assistance that will be provided is at the discretion of the service, based on circumstances such as the vulnerability and needs of the client, the merits of the case and available resources.

Human Rights Law may refuse assistance where:

  • The matter gives rise to a conflict of interest
  • The matter is so urgent that our solicitors cannot effectively provide legal assistance
  • Our solicitors does not have capacity or resources to take on the matter
  • The individual refuses to accept a Human Rights Solicitor’s advice on an important matter, or the individual is not open and honest with our solicitor such that it is impossible for them to provide proper legal assistance
  • There is another more appropriate organisation which can provide assistance to the individual, including Legal Aid Queensland

 

How to get help

 

Please contact us on 07 3844 4200 or 1300 130 582 or use the contact form below to enquire about getting assistance from our HRL solicitors.

You will be required to provide QAI with certain personal details which are necessary for us to deliver our services. All personal information is treated as strictly confidential.

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“Thank you so much for all your help, I can’t praise you
enough Russell for your knowledge and help.”

HRAP client, 2020

 

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Thanks a million, you really are the first in nearly 21 years that’s really supported me and came through for me.”

HRAP client, 2021

 

Case study

Nora regained some of her choice and control with the help of Queensland Advocacy’s human rights solicitor.

After many years on a depressing and debilitating circuit that included extended hospital inpatient stays and periods in prisons and police cells, Nora* commenced a “Plan-Managed” NDIS package a few years ago. After some necessary and inevitable trial and error, Nora learned – through persistence and hard work – how to make decisions about support services that worked for her. Her experience of controlling her own supports for the first time gave her motivation to improve her health more generally, and she successfully stayed out of hospital and out of trouble for over two years. Then, despite her hard work and success, her clinical team brought an application to have the Public Guardian appointed to make all decisions about her NDIS package. This would have had very detrimental consequences for Nora, as she would have lost the autonomy she’d enjoyed for two years, and the Public Guardian may have been unable to employ the same support services as Nora had been. Nora approached QAI for legal representation at QCAT. After two days of hearings, and extensive written submissions prepared by QAI’s lawyers, QCAT dismissed the clinical team’s applications. Nora retained her ability to choose the supports that work best for her and, for the first time in a very long time, experienced a decision going her way.

*Name has been changed.

Get in touch with us

If you have any questions or would like to find out more, contact us on (07) 3844 4200 or qai@qai.org.au or use the form below to send us a message.

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