Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ) is a specialist community legal centre, providing free advice, advocacy and legal services state-wide by telephone.
Our committed staff, volunteers and students assist vulnerable people in matters relating to social security, disability discrimination and women’s employment issues.
BRQ CEO Kara Cook introduces the organisation, what we do and what we stand for.
We Provide
Help with Centrelink
We provide free information, advocacy and legal services on Social Security (Centrelink and Employment Services).
Disability Discrimination Assistance
We provide advice and resources to protect your rights and help resolve disability discrimination matters.
Working Women Qld
A free, confidential & supportive service designed to help vulnerable women seeking help with work-related matters.
Mental Health Legal Help
Legal support for people with mental health issues and referrals to specialist community legal services for mental health.
Where an issue has an impact on the broader community we may develop and conduct community education activities, and/or undertake research informing law reform projects where we advocate on behalf of the community.
- Basic Rights Queensland’s specialist services are accessible via freecall numbers from anywhere in Queensland.
- BRQ’s client work focuses on vulnerable and disadvantaged people:
- 55% of our clients are people with disability, including mental illness
- 97% of our clients are in very straitened financial circumstances
- 14% of our clients have no income at the time of contact
- Basic Rights Queensland’s social work services are offered to clients in need of brief counselling or linking in with local supports
- BRQ’s plain English factsheets support understanding of the law, how to access rights and any related responsibilities
- BRQ’s capacity-building training assists community, private sector and government workers to understand the law and how to assist their clients
- BRQ’s law reform activities arise from the client work; they focus on informing government of the impacts of laws and policies on vulnerable people and on offering positive alternatives
- BRQ has been operating for over 33 years with the support of volunteers, sponsors, donors and pro-bono assistance
Basic Rights Queensland: News
AGM celebrates 2023-24 achievements and impact
On Wednesday, 23 October 2024, Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ) hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM), bringing together staff, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate a year of incredible achievements and reflect on the positive impact BRQ continues to have in the community. The highlight of the event was stories of impact from BRQ’s dedicated team members, … Read More
Read MoreImproving accessibility of paid DFV leave
This week saw the release of the Independent Statutory Review of the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2022. WWQ supports thousands of Queensland women each year, a large portion experiencing FDV at the same time as navigating workplace issues. We celebrated the introduction of paid FDV leave to the National … Read More
Read MoreCosts reform a gamechanger in access to justice in discrimination claims
The Power to Prevent Coalition (which includes Basic Rights Queensland) welcomes the costs reforms passed by parliament on 19 September 2024. The Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill implements recommendation 25 of the Respect@Work Report and adopts a modified equal access costs model in federal anti-discrimination law in Australia, addressing a key barrier … Read More
Read MoreIn the 2021 to 2022 financial year Basic Rights Queensland helped 2313 people access 6506 services.
By percentage, our clients identified as:
Get Help Now: Call Basic Rights Queensland from anywhere in Queensland.
Make a booking for Telephone Advice here.
Social Security and Disability Discrimination telephone advice line
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Women’s Employment Issues telephone advice
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm