The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has developed a series of teaching resources which members may find useful.

Paid maternity leave is second in the Current Issues series of activities for upper primary and secondary students.

The teaching materials for paid maternity leave include:

• a fact sheet;
• a case study;
• four structured activities;
• teaching notes; and
• an interview with the Sex Discrimination Commissioner

The materials explore paid maternity leave in the general context of gender equality in the workforce. It is hoped students will develop an understanding of how paid maternity leave is relevant to them, particularly when considering career intentions.

Year 12 Student Interviews Sex Discrimination Commissioner

As part the set of resources a Year 12 student, Amy Shoemark, recently interviewed Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Pru Goward, on paid maternity leave, gender equality in the workforce and career aspirations.

Available online, the interview forms part of a set of activities on paid maternity leave and the workforce. Gender Equality in the Workforce: Class Activities. This can be found at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_teachers/pregnancy/index.html

Commissioner Goward discusses:

• proposals for paid maternity leave;
• the challenges faced by young working women;
• gender equality issues in schools;
• career advice for students.

New Information for Teachers Portal

Teachers can now access a range of teaching material on human rights from HREOC's New Information for Teachers section.

Regularly updated, it includes activities on current human rights issues, with a new issue each month. The section also contains:

• links to external human rights resources for teachers
• Youth Challenge and other education modules; and
• general resources on human rights education, including links with curriculum in each State and Territory

The website address is http://www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_teachers/index.html

Australia is Refugees

This activity for students in years 10 to 12 aims to show the achievements of refugees and their contribution to Australian society. Students are asked to write an essay based on a former Australian refugee, highlighting the above points. It also includes starting tips and a story from former refugee Alan Shelling, which appeared in The Age.

Information on the AEU refugees campaign can be found at http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Campaigns/index2.html#REF

Stop Homophobia :Teacher Resource

This is a great resource for understanding and responding to homophobia in schools. The site includes a section for those working with young people, including teachers. It includes information on sexual diversity, homophobia, and practical responses to such violence. It also has a range of useful contacts and fact sheets.

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society have also produced a guide specifically for school teachers: Safety in our Schools strategies for responding to homophobia. To obtain a copy, email ARCSHS@latrobe.edu.au.

Hot Topics Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC)

LIAC produce a variety of extremely useful guides on current legal issues. Each topic provides comprehensive coverage in plain language on a particular topic, vetted by legal professionals. Case studies, further reading and contacts are included. Most are available online at http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/liac/

Hot Topic issues include: Human Rights, Reconciliation, International Law, Native Title, Juvenile Justice, Discrimination and Human Genetic Information.

National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention

On 28 November 2001, Human Rights Commissioner Sev Ozdowski announced a National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention. The Inquiry's online homepage includes a number of useful resources for educators.

Submissions to the Inquiry by organisations, including those on education, can be read at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/submissions/index.html

There is a Background Paper covering education issues for those in detention at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/background/education.html

The section also includes updates on the public hearings, the Inquiry's terms of reference and regular media updates.

The AEU Submission can be found at "www.aeufederal.org.au/Publications/HREOCRefugeeSubmission.pdf" - (in PDF Format)

Teaching Human Rights: Posters and Postcards

HREOC has produced a set of postcards specifically for educators and available free of charge. Postcards are available for the Information for Teachers' site, the Stolen Generations Inquiry, Youth Challenge and Paid Maternity Leave. Email: education@humanrights.gov.au for copies.

Bringing Them Home: Study Guide online

Teachers can now download a study guide to "Bringing Them Home" the report from the Stolen Generations Inquiry. The guide includes a timeline, and highlights the common experiences and effects of Indigenous people who were removed from their families.

The AEU website has other information of interest on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues at http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Atsi/index2.html

Please feel free to check out the AEU site for other links.

Fiona McNamara
Federal Women's Officer