Changes that came into effect in the ACT on Monday also ban discrimination on the basis of refugee status, physical appearance or an irrelevant criminal record, according to ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay.

But ACT human rights commissioner Dr Helen Watchirs said the most significant of the changes would make it illegal to discriminate against survivors of domestic and family violence.

"We've heard stories of people losing their job when their partners have harassed them at work or because they've been absent from work because of court orders or medical appointments so they are vulnerable," Dr Watchirs said.

"In other jurisdictions, people have lost their homes because of their partner's harassment of them, maybe they destroy property and they're evicted from that house."

The ACT's Discrimination Act now protects people from discrimination on five extra grounds: accommodation status, employment status, status as a victim of family or domestic violence, immigration status and physical features.

That would mean it could be unlawful for a real estate agent to refuse accommodation to someone who had been homeless for a period or who had previously lived in public housing.

Existing parts of the bill have been updated to strengthen protection from discrimination on the basis of: gender identity, intersex status, carer and family responsibilities and irrelevant criminal record.

"The aim of the law is that a person who no longer commits criminal acts should be rehabilitated and accepted fully back into society," Dr Watchirs said.

"I know that people leaving the [Alexander Maconochie Centre] do have difficulty finding employment so making this law more clear should assist in that, that there are many jobs where it would be irrelevant."

Mr Ramsay said the updates build on changes that outlawed vilification on the basis of religious beliefs or disability and which took force in August last year.

"These changes are about ensuring that stereotypes and stigmatisation do not result in people missing out on a fair go to access services or receive opportunities," Mr Ramsay said.

"These changes will promote inclusion and fairness in the day to day lives of vulnerable Canberrans."

Program manager of Canberra Community Law's homeless outreach service Street Law, Heather McAulay said the changes sent a strong message but it remained to be seen how they would work in practice.

"We certainly see cases where people face barriers in accessing services because they don't have a fixed address and these reforms are intended to address those barriers," Ms McAulay said.

"Often our clients do report in their general dealings with trying to access services they're being treated as a lesser person, I guess because they're considered to be homeless or unemployed."

However there are notable exemptions to the laws.

It would not be unlawful to refuse to serve a homeless person if they could not pay for the goods or services.

It would also not be illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of physical features for photographic or modelling work, as they are considered an occupational requirement.

The ACT Human rights Commission will offer free training on the new discrimination laws: hrc.act.gov.au/discrimination