Appointment of the Age Discrimination Commissioner

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM as the next Age Discrimination Commissioner.

Mr Fitzgerald is the current Ageing and Disability Commissioner in New South Wales. He also served as a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and as President of the Australian Council of Social Service.

I congratulate Mr Fitzgerald on his appointment and thank him for taking on this important role. Mr Fitzgerald has dedicated his life to serving the community and his direct, recent experience fighting for the rights of older Australians will be a great asset to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The Age Discrimination Commissioner leads the Commission’s work addressing barriers to equality and participation caused by age discrimination and protecting older Australians from discrimination on the basis of age in employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.

Mr Fitzgerald’s five-year appointment will commence on 2 April 2024, filling the vacancy resulting from the conclusion of The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO’s appointment. I thank Dr Patterson for her contribution during her term of appointment, and Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, President of the AHRC, for acting in the role throughout the merit-based selection process.

For information about the Australian Human Rights Commission, including the work of the Age Discrimination Commissioner, visit Our Work page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.