Guidance materials

High angle portrait of diverse group of business people meeting at table in modern office interior decorated by plants.

The Commission has developed the following practical guidance materials to help organisations and businesses to understand their responsibilities and the changes they may need to make to satisfy the positive duty.

Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty (2023)

The Guidelines are the Commission’s most comprehensive legal resource on the positive duty.

The Guidelines provide detailed information about:

what the positive duty is
who must meet the positive duty
what it means to take ‘reasonable and proportionate measures’
how the positive duty will be enforced
related legal obligations

The Guidelines also provide examples of practical actions that organisations and businesses can take to help them satisfy the positive duty.

Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty (PDF) (3.07 MB)

Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty (Word) (5.21 MB)

Information Guide on the Positive Duty

Relevant Unlawful Conduct, Drivers, Risk Factors and Impacts (2023)

The Information Guide is a companion to Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty (2023), designed to educate organisations and businesses about the relevant unlawful conduct covered by the positive duty.

The Information Guide covers:

types of relevant unlawful conduct
when and where it may occur
risks and drivers of relevant unlawful conduct
who relevant unlawful conduct affects and its impacts.

Information Guide on The Positive Duty 2023 [PDF] (1.87 MB)

Information Guide on the Positive Duty [DOCX] (1.57 MB)

A Resource for Small Business on the Positive Duty (2023)

The Resource for Small Business is designed to promote understanding in the small business community about the new positive duty. This resource includes a brief outline of the positive duty, who it applies to and who it covers. It outlines the steps small businesses can take to satisfy their obligations and provides practical case studies to help small businesses understand the positive duty and take action.

Resource for Small Business on The Positive Duty 2023 [PDF] (1.53 MB)

Resource for Small Business on the Positive Duty [DOCX] (2.37 MB)

Cover page - Easy Read Guide about the positive duty digital accessible [PDF]

Easy Read Guides

These guides talk about the positive duty in easy to read format. They were made with the Council for Intellectual Disability.

Easy Read Guide about the positive duty digital accessible [PDF] (2.68 MB)

Easy Read Guide about the positive duty print [PDF] (15.33 MB)

A Quick Guide for Complying with the Positive Duty (2023)

The Quick Guide is a summary of the Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty (2023) and the Information Guide, designed to provide information about the positive duty and to help organisations and businesses to satisfy their legal responsibilities.

The Quick Guide explains: