Personal profile
Biography
Dominique is a socio-legal scholar, researching anti-discrimination law and equality. Her work uses doctrinal, comparative and empirical methodologies. In 2022 she received the Dean’s Award for Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Research Excellence. In 2023 she received the Dean's Commendation for Excellence in Research Engagement and Impact (with Dr Adriana Orifici).
Dominique was awarded funding from the Australian Research Council to examine mechanisms for resolving human rights complaints (with Prof. Tamara Walsh, University of Queensland). Commencing in 2023, the project is being conducted in partnership with human rights agencies and community legal centres in four Australian jurisdictions.
In 2022 Dominique completed a research project on women's experience of using Victoria's anti-discrimination laws (with Dr Adriana Orifici) which was funded by the Victorian Women's Benevolent Trust. The project built upon their research on pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and the impact of COVID-19 on workers with family responsibilities.
In 2020 Dominique co-convened a workshop funded by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia entitled 'Using Transparency to Achieve Equality' which brought together researchers from law, politics, health and demography along with government and industry. Papers were published in a special edition of Law in Context.
Dominique completed a large empirical research project that assessed the impact of the innovative mechanisms contained in Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010, which was funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board. In 2019 she used empirical methodologies to assess the ADR practices used to resolve discrimination claims in Queensland, NSW and federally.
Previously, she has conducted research projects on the enforcement of anti-discrimination law, the role of statutory equal opportunity agencies in Australia and overseas, the impact of COVID-19 on workers with family responsibilities, pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and the role of ADR in resolving legal disputes. Details of Dominique’s research can be found on Google Scholar.
Dominique has published widely in law journals in Australia and internationally on anti-discrimination law, sexual harassment, comparative law, equality, ADR, and human rights. She regularly presents at local and international conferences and contributes to local and national law reform inquiries. With Professor Neil Rees AM and Professor Simon Rice OAM, she is the author of Australian Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Law (Third Ed, The Federation Press, 2018).
Dominique is the Director of Research in the Department of Business Law & Taxation in the Monash Business School. She served as Secretary of the Australian Labour Law Association 2016-2023.
Dominique sits on the Advisory Board of the Anti-Discrimination Law Review (Wolters Kluwer) and on the Advisory Board of the US-based Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law.
Dominique has a PhD from Melbourne Law School and an Honours degree in law from the Australian National University. She was a Senior Lecturer at Deakin Law School from 2010-2016 and taught contract law and workplace law. Prior to becoming an academic, Dominique practiced as a solicitor in the ACT.
Dominique is interested in supervising HDR students in areas relating to race, sex, age and disability discrimination, enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, equality agencies, sexual harassment, and workplace equality.
External positions
Secretary, Australian Labour Law Association
5 Nov 2016 → 2023
Research area keywords
- Anti-discrimination law
- Equality
- Employment Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Law
- Human Rights Law
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 5 Finished
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Australian human rights complaints: Litigation, mediation or conciliation
Walsh, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Allen, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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How do Victorian women respond to sex discrimination at work?
Allen, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Orifici, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Victorian Women's Trust Limited, Monash University – Internal Department Contribution
10/01/22 → 23/12/22
Project: Research
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History of human rights complaints in Australian federal law
Allen, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Walsh, T. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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Using transparency to achieve equality
Blackham, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Thornton, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Allen, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
23/07/20 → 24/07/20
Project: Research
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Evaluating the effectiveness of the new mechanisms in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)
Allen, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
3/01/17 → 15/12/19
Project: Research
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A complex terrain: navigating workplace discrimination laws
Allen, D., 2024, In: Adelaide Law Review. 45, 3, p. 590-611 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Bearers of rights, not just babies: pondering pregnancy as an impairment to explore pathways to equality
Smith, B., Kayess, R., Allen, D. & Orifici, A., Sept 2024, In: Alternative Law Journal. 49, 3, p. 192-197 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Twenty years of human rights protection in the Australian Capital Territory: what have we learned
Walsh, T. & Allen, D., Jul 2024, In: University of New South Wales Law Journal. 47, 2, p. 391-414 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
A case for recognising non-discrimination as a fundamental right at common law
Allen, D., Boughey, J. & Meagher, D., Oct 2023, In: University of New South Wales Law Journal. 46, 3, p. 902-930 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
A new approach to australia's sex discrimination and labour laws is designed to improve equality for women at work
Allen, D., Dec 2023, In: Industrial Law Journal. 52, 4, p. 956-976 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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2022 Dean's Award for Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Research Excellence
Allen, D. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2023 Dean's Commendation for Excellence in Research Engagement and Impact
Allen, D. (Recipient) & Orifici, A. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Australian Journal of Human Rights (Journal)
Blackham, A. (Guest editor), Allen, D. (Guest editor) & Orifici, A. (Guest editor)
2026Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Labour Law Research Network Conference 2025
Allen, D. (Speaker)
30 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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The Racial Discrimination Act at 50
Allen, D. (Invited speaker)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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I-CON S Aus-NZ Chapter Conference
Allen, D. (Speaker) & Walsh, T. (Speaker)
29 Aug 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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2024 Centre for Law and Social Justice Symposium
Allen, D. (Speaker) & Walsh, T. (Speaker)
25 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Celebrations and disappointments: Women, workplaces and the law
19/03/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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‘I was trapped’: Pregnancy Discrimination in Victoria
23/09/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Personality testing in job applications: what can and can’t employers ask you?
12/08/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Why flexible working arrangements for women is good business
24/03/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature