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).

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Disability Discrimination Assistance
We provide advice and resources to protect your rights and help resolve disability discrimination matters.

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Working Women Qld
A free, confidential & supportive service designed to help vulnerable women seeking help with work-related matters.

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Mental Health Legal Help
Legal support for people with mental health issues and referrals to specialist community legal services for mental health.

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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

2023 Referendum

2023 Referendum

August 31, 2023

On 14 October 2023 Australians will head to the polls to vote on a Voice to Parliament.

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In the 2021 to 2022 financial year Basic Rights Queensland helped 2313 people access 6506 services.

By percentage, our clients identified as:

64
Female Clients
55.38
People with a disability
97.88
Financially Disadvantaged
10.64
Regional and Remote
6.5
Culturally or Linguistically Diverse, or Indigenous Australians

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

Free Call 1800 358 511

Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Women’s Employment Issues telephone advice

Free Call 1800 358 511

Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm