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
The Future of Work: How AI Will Impact Working Women in Queensland
DOWNLOAD: The Future of Work – How Artificial Intelligence will impact working women in Queensland The employment of women in Queensland stands to be uniquely impacted by artificial intelligence. On one hand, occupations that are traditionally dominated by women such as healthcare and teaching are predicted not to be impacted by AI in any meaningful … Read More
Read MoreIssues facing women aged 45+ in the workforce and their lack of representation in leadership roles
Read the report here. WWQ recently partnered with the UQ Probono Centre on a literature review report. The topic of the report is “Issues facing women aged 45+ in the workforce and their lack of representation in leadership roles”. The Literature Review analysed and applied a critical feminist lens to existing literature relating to issues … Read More
Read More2023 Referendum
On 14 October 2023 Australians will head to the polls to vote on a Voice to Parliament.
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