Chris Sidoti

Chris Sidoti "is a long-time human rights activist in non-government and official human rights organisations. He now works as a human rights consultant nationally and internationally, undertaking projects principally in the Asia Pacific region but also in Europe and North America.

"He is presently visiting professor at the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, Queensland, visiting professor at the School of Applied Social and Human Sciences at the University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, senior fellow at the Asia Australia Institute at the University of New South Wales and professional associate at the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University, Victoria. He is also National Spokesman for the Human Rights Council of Australia.

"Mr Sidoti is also a part-time Judicial Member of the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal.

"Mr Sidoti was Australian Human Rights Commissioner from 14 August 1995 to 13 August 2000. One of his most significant projects while Human Rights Commissioner was the National Inquiry into Rural and Remote Education, which took him to country schools and communities right across Australia over an 18 month period in 1999-2000. That Inquiry led to a package of recommendations to make high quality education accessible to all children on the basis of equality.

"Mr Sidoti's career has included being National Secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Manager of Executive Services in the NSW Department of Youth and Community Services, Foundation Secretary of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and Commissioner with the Australian Law Reform Commission.

"He has also acted as Race Discrimination Commissioner (1991) and Disability Discrimination Commissioner (1997-99) within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

"Mr Sidoti has held many senior honorary positions in non government organisations, including Deputy President of the Australian Council of Social Service, President of the Youth Affairs Council of Australia and Chairperson of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and of the Uniya Jesuit Social Research Institute.

"Mr Sidoti has continued his long association with community organisations. He is presently a member of the boards of Mercy Works and of the CREATE Foundation (formerly the Australian Association of Young People in Care) and of the advisory council of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. He is also Vice President of the International Bureau for Children's Rights based in Canada."


 * Secretariat, International Service for Human Rights
 * Patron, A Just Australia
 * Council Member, Australian Volunteers International