Function 1: The Commissioner must foster and encourage amongst members of the public informed and unprejudiced attitudes with a view to eliminating discrimination in the grounds to which this Act applies.

Training and education

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Total – participants

238

458

304

389

24

Total – sessions

20

39

20

29

3

Note: From 1 July 2021 the office ceased delivering training directly to the public. From 2021-22 the number of training sessions delivered only includes sessions delivered by partner training providers.

Matters received

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

No. of enquiries received

607

659

647

553

568

% difference from previous year

7%

9%

-2%

-15%

3%

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

 

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

Telephone

390

64%

427

65%

460

71%

384

69%

355

63%

Email

152

25%

220

33%

170

26%

152

27%

201

35%

Online form

9

1%

2

0%

9

1%

6

1%

4

1%

Letter

3

0%

4

1%

8

1%

7

1%

3

1%

In person

51

8%

4

1%

0

0%

3

1%

5

1%

Hardcopy form

0

0%

2

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

Facebook

2

0%

0

0%

0

0%

1

0%

0

0%

          

Total

607

100%

659

100%

647

100%

553

100%

568

100%

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Disability

176

27%

154

21%

230

34%

138

23%

143

25%

Race

61

10%

74

10%

42

6%

53

9%

44

8%

Sex

31

5%

39

5%

15

2%

31

5%

21

4%

Age

20

3%

43

6%

32

5%

26

4%

18

3%

Caring Responsibilities

16

2%

14

2%

14

2%

12

2%

17

3%

Sexual Harassment

49

8%

41

6%

22

3%

13

2%

12

2%

Pregnancy

15

2%

15

2%

12

2%

12

2%

11

2%

Gender Identity

2

0%

14

2%

6

1%

8

1%

5

1%

Victimisation

13

2%

21

3%

5

1%

12

2%

4

1%

Domestic Abuse

        

3

1%

Sexual Orientation

5

1%

16

2%

4

1%

2

0%

2

0%

Religious Dress

9

1%

5

1%

2

0%

0

0%

2

0%

Marital Status

1

0%

2

0%

2

0%

4

1%

1

0%

Association with a Child

2

0%

4

1%

1

0%

2

0%

1

0%

Identity of Spouse or Partner

1

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

1

0%

Intersex Status

3

0%

2

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

Enquiries with no grounds under Equal Opportunity Act 1984

150

23%

189

26%

219

33%

199

33%

174

30%

General EOSA enquiries

87

14%

87

12%

64

10%

86

14%

120

21%

          

Total

641

100%

720

100%

670

100%

598

100%

579

100%

Note - Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

 

No

%

No

%

No

%

No

%

No.

%

Employment

285

55%

249

47%

240

47%

204

49%

208

54%

Goods and Services

116

22%

134

25%

165

32%

108

26%

89

23%

Housing/Land/Accommodation

38

7%

35

7%

45

9%

46

11%

23

6%

Education /Training

53

10%

57

11%

26

5%

33

8%

39

10%

Clubs and Associations

30

6%

47

9%

20

4%

20

5%

16

4%

Qualification

0

0%

0

0%

9

2%

3

1%

6

2%

Advertising

0

0%

4

1%

6

1%

5

1%

3

1%

          

Total

522

100%

526

100%

511

100%

419

100%

384

100%

Note: enquiries that do not relate to an area of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 are not included in this table.

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Complaints lodged in year

181

230

224

163

148

Complaints closed in year

160

258

218

182

127

% difference of lodged complaints from previous year

1%

27%

-3%

-27%

-9%

 

2019-20 

2020-21 

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

Online form

141

78%

162

70%

178

79%

119

73%

118

80%

Email

27

15%

37

16%

36

16%

33

20%

22

15%

Hardcopy form

9

5%

22

10%

3

1%

5

3%

6

4%

Letter

4

2%

6

3%

4

2%

4

2%

1

1%

Telephone

0

0%

3

1%

3

1%

1

1%

1

1%

Fax

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

1

1%

0

0%

In Person

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

Facebook

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0%

          

Total

181

100%

230

100%

224

100%

163

100%

148

100%

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

Sexual Harassment

46

20%

22

12%

14

12%

30

24%

27

32%

Disability

50

21%

46

25%

41

35%

41

32%

15

18%

Sex

26

11%

20

11%

8

7%

15

12%

15

18%

Victimisation

33

14%

22

12%

19

16%

4

3%

10

12%

Race

24

10%

17

9%

12

10%

8

6%

5

6%

Age

16

7%

13

7%

7

6%

9

7%

3

4%

Gender Identity

11

5%

1

1%

3

3%

5

4%

2

2%

Caring Responsibilities

3

1%

7

4%

3

3%

3

2%

2

2%

Association with a Child

1

0%

3

2%

1

1%

1

1%

2

2%

Sexual Orientation

6

3%

3

2%

3

3%

4

3%

1

1%

Marital Status

1

0%

0

0%

0

0%

1

1%

1

1%

Pregnancy

3

1%

4

2%

0

0%

0

0%

1

1%

Identity of Spouse

8

3%

2

1%

2

2%

3

2%

0

0%

Whistleblower*

5

2%

0

0%

3

3%

2

2%

0

0%

Other

0

0%

27

14%

0

0%

1

1%

0

0%

Religious Appearance or Dress

0

0%

0

0%

1

1%

0

0%

0

0%

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0%

0

0%

1

1%

0

0%

0

0%

Domestic Abuse

        

0

0%

          

Total Grounds

233

100%

187

100%

118

100%

127

100%

84

100%

*  Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Notes - there may be more than one ground per complaint. Data in the table will vary slightly from year to year due to database corrections and changes during the period a complaint is open. ‘Other’ added from 2020-21. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

 

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

Employment

163

70%

66

58%

46

56%

49

67%

21

57%

Goods and Services

29

12%

27

24%

21

26%

13

18%

11

30%

Education/Training

36

15%

10

9%

10

12%

5

7%

4

11%

Clubs and Associations

3

1%

4

4%

4

5%

2

3%

1

3%

Advertising

0

0%

3

3%

0

0%

1

1%

0

0%

Housing/Land/Accommodation

2

1%

2

2%

0

0%

3

4%

0

0%

Qualification

0

0%

1

1%

1

1%

0

0%

0

0%

          

Total Areas

233

100%

113

100%

82

100%

73

100%

37

100%

 

Area

Ground

Advertising

Clubs and Associations

Education and training

Employment

Goods and Services

Housing, land and accommodation

Total

Sexual Harassment

0

1

2

16

0

0

19

Disability

0

0

1

7

7

0

15

Sex

0

0

1

9

2

0

12

Victimisation

0

0

0

8

1

0

9

Race

0

0

0

4

1

0

5

Age

0

0

1

2

0

0

3

Association with a Child

0

0

0

0

2

0

2

Caring Responsibilities

0

0

0

1

1

0

2

Gender Identity

0

0

0

1

1

0

2

Marital Status

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

Pregnancy

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

Sexual Orientation

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic Abuse

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Intersex status

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Religious Dress

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Whistleblower*

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

Total of Areas

0

2

5

49

16

0

72

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

Employment

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Sexual Harassment

41

20

20

27

16

Sex

18

15

6

7

9

Victimisation

26

14

14

3

8

Disability

26

21

12

24

7

Race

14

9

8

5

4

Age

12

10

6

7

2

Gender Identity

4

0

1

3

1

Caring Responsibilities

2

4

2

2

1

Pregnancy

3

4

0

0

1

Sexual Orientation

5

1

3

2

0

Whistleblower *

5

0

3

2

0

Association with a Child

1

0

0

1

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

5

0

2

0

0

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

1

0

0

Religious appearance or dress

0

0

1

0

0

Marital Status

1

0

0

0

0

Intersex Status

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic Abuse

    

0

Other

0

13

0

0

0

     

Total

163

111

79

83

49

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

Goods and services

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Disability

9

16

18

9

7

Sex

7

3

1

5

2

Association with a Child

0

2

1

0

2

Race

6

4

4

1

1

Victimisation

0

3

2

0

1

Gender Identity

2

1

1

0

1

Caring Responsibilities

0

1

1

0

1

Marital Status

0

0

0

0

1

Sexual Orientation

1

2

0

2

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

1

0

0

2

0

Age

1

3

1

1

0

Sexual Harassment

2

0

2

0

0

Intersex Status

0

2

0

0

0

Whistleblower *

0

0

0

0

0

Pregnancy

0

0

0

0

0

Religious appearance or dress

0

0

0

0

0

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic abuse

    

0

Other

0

8

0

0

0

     

Total

29

45

31

20

16

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA).Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

Education, training and qualifications

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Sexual Harassment

3

2

0

0

2

Disability

11

6

8

3

1

Sex

1

1

1

1

1

Age

3

0

0

0

1

Victimisation

6

3

4

1

0

Caring Responsibilities

1

2

3

1

0

Race

4

1

2

1

0

Gender Identity

5

0

1

1

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

2

0

0

1

0

Marital Status

0

0

0

1

0

Whistleblower *

0

0

0

0

0

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

0

0

0

Association with a Child

0

0

0

0

0

Intersex Status

0

0

0

0

0

Pregnancy

0

0

0

0

0

Religious appearance or dress

0

0

0

0

0

Sexual Orientation

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic Abuse

    

0

Other

0

5

0

0

0

     

Total

36

20

19

10

5

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

Clubs and associations

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Sexual Harassment

0

0

0

0

1

Sexual Orientation

0

0

0

0

1

Disability

2

2

4

1

0

Gender Identity

0

0

0

1

0

Victimisation

1

2

0

0

0

Race

0

1

0

0

0

Age

0

0

0

0

0

Caring Responsibilities

0

0

0

0

0

Sex

0

0

0

0

0

Whistleblower *

0

0

0

0

0

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

0

0

0

Association with a Child

0

0

0

0

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

0

0

0

0

0

Intersex Status

0

0

0

0

0

Marital Status

0

0

0

0

0

Pregnancy

0

0

0

0

0

Religious appearance or dress

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic Abuse

    

0

Other

0

1

0

0

0

Total

3

6

4

2

2

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

 

Housing/Land/Accommodation

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Disability

2

1

0

2

0

Age

0

0

0

1

0

Race

0

0

0

1

0

Association with a Child

0

1

0

0

0

Sex

0

1

0

0

0

Sexual Harassment

0

0

0

0

0

Victimisation

0

0

0

0

0

Caring Responsibilities

0

0

0

0

0

Gender Identity

0

0

0

0

0

Pregnancy

0

0

0

0

0

Whistleblower *

0

0

0

0

0

Aiding Unlawful Act

0

0

0

0

0

Identity of Spouse or Partner

0

0

0

0

0

Intersex Status

0

0

0

0

0

Marital Status

0

0

0

0

0

Religious appearance or dress

0

0

0

0

0

Sexual Orientation

0

0

0

0

0

Domestic Abuse

    

0

Other

0

0

0

0

0

Total

2

3

0

4

0

* Refers to complaints of victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (SA), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) or the Independent Commissioner for Corruption Act 2012 (SA). Note: there may be more than one ground and area per complaint. Domestic Abuse protections commenced from 1 September 2023.

Note due to low or zero numbers annually, a separate table of data is not supplied for advertising complaints.

Matter outcomes

Enquiries – Outcomes

2019-20 

2020-21 

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

General information provided

165

27%

347

47%

337

53%

174

31%

407

65%

No action required

49

8%

84

11%

79

12%

102

18%

94

15%

Referred elsewhere (out of EOSA jurisdiction)

98

16%

96

13%

95

15%

109

20%

68

11%

Referred to advocate (to assist with EO/other Issue)

6

1%

3

0%

26

4%

28

5%

27

4%

Complaint form and information package sent

14

2%

53

7%

38

6%

65

12%

13

2%

Referred to Australian Human Rights Commission

6

1%

1

0%

16

3%

12

2%

10

2%

Referred to EOSA electronic complaint form

39

6%

25

3%

31

5%

49

9%

5

1%

Referred to EOSA Website

226

37%

120

16%

9

1%

10

2%

4

1%

Media response provided/Presentation requested/Other

0

0%

0

0%

6

1%

3

1%

3

0%

Appointment made for interview with EOSA enquiry officer

0

0%

2

0%

1

0%

1

0%

0

0%

          

Total

603

100%

731

100%

638

100%

553

100%

631

100%

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Finalised complaints

176

235

218

182

127

Average no. months to finalise all complaints

2.6

2.5

2.3

2.8

2.0

Median no. months to finalise all complaints

2.3

2.0

1.7

1.0

1.2

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Resolved by conciliation#

57

48

24

25

11

Expedited conciliation

*

*

*

14

7

Conciliation by conference

*

*

*

11

4

Declined by Commissioner

*

*

*

22

14

No conciliation attempted

*

*

*

20

10

After attempting conciliation

*

*

*

2

4

Withdrawn by complainant

*

*

*

7

8

No conciliation attempted

*

*

*

5

8

After attempting conciliation

*

*

*

2

0

Referred to tribunal by Commissioner

26

31

34

17

4

No conciliation attempted

*

*

*

4

2

After attempting conciliation

*

*

*

13

2

Total no. accepted complaints finalised

114

126

80

71

37

# - Out of 17 attempted (7 attempted by conference, 10 attempted by expedited conciliation)
* - Improved data reporting at 2022/23. Some data not available from previous years. Note - Of the 14 complaints declined by the Commissioner, 2 were referred to tribunal at the request of the complainant.

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Financial compensation

25

20

7

12

6

Apology

31

21

14

13

3

Policy change/change in practice

14

11

9

8

2

Complainant satisfied with response

0

0

2

6

2

Reasonable adjustment

5

5

1

1

2

Staff training/development program

18

7

2

0

2

Other

11

13

3

4

1

Reference provided

2

5

0

1

1

Provision of goods/services/facilities

2

1

0

1

1

Private agreement

13

7

0

0

1

Access to/provision of accommodation

2

0

0

0

1

Employment options improved (e.g. job offer)

4

4

0

2

0

Other access achieved (e.g. mobility)

6

0

0

1

0

Undertaking to cease an action

3

0

1

0

0

Access to education/training

2

0

1

0

0

Access to club membership/benefits

0

0

0

0

0

Note: there may be more than one outcome per conciliation agreement.

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Total financial compensation payments

$173,114

$150,842

$44,000

$158,950

$89,513

Average financial compensation payments

$6,925

$9,428

$6,285

$15,895

$14,919

Note: Individual agreements for financial compensation ranged from $500 to $40,000 in 2023-24.

Demographic data

2023-24

Enquiries

Complaints

Undisclosed

273

28

Female

176

64

Male

119

53

Non-binary

0

1

Transgender

0

2

Intersex

0

0

  

Total

568

148

 

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

0 - 9 years

2%

3%

2%

1%

0%

10 - 19 years

6%

6%

4%

1%

19%

20 - 29 years

24%

16%

9%

13%

14%

30 - 39 years

27%

21%

15%

15%

24%

40 - 49 years

13%

15%

17%

14%

22%

50 - 59 years

13%

14%

14%

10%

11%

60 - 69 years

6%

9%

4%

7%

8%

70 - 79 years

2%

1%

5%

6%

0%

80 + years

0%

2%

0%

1%

0%

Unknown age

7%

14%

31%

31%

1%

     

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Exemptions under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984

Section 92 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 provides for applicants to apply to the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) for an exemption from the Act for a specific purpose. SACAT provides the Commissioner with a copy of all applications received, to enable her to review the application and make any submissions she considers necessary before an application is considered by SACAT.

In 2023-24 the Commissioner responded to 5 exemption applications involving 7 applicants.

Applicant

Summary

Order

Ascent Professional Services Pty Ltd

Application for a conditional exemption allowing the applicants to fulfil commercial contracts in the defence industry in South Australia

Granted

BAE Systems Australia Limited, BAE Systems Australia Defence Pty Ltd, ASC Shipbuilding Pty Ltd

Application for the renewal of a conditional exemption allowing the applicants to fulfil commercial contracts in the defence industry in South Australia

Granted

Leidos Australia Pty Ltd

Application for the renewal of a conditional exemption allowing the applicants to fulfil commercial contracts in the defence industry in South Australia

Granted

Jet Aviation Australia Pty Ltd

Application for the renewal of a conditional exemption allowing the applicants to fulfil commercial contracts in the defence industry in South Australia

Granted

SAAB Australia Pty Ltd

Application for a conditional exemption allowing the applicants to fulfil commercial contracts in the defence industry in South Australia

Granted*

*EOSA responded to the application in 2023-24, however the tribunal did not grant the exemption until July 2024.