Racism. It Stops With Me acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and pays respect to Elders, past, present and future. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images, voices, or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or text.

National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report

Submitted by monique.duggan on

The Australian Human Rights Commission has published a new report that provides an evidence base and vital next steps for developing a coordinated, national approach to combatting racism in Australia. 

Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan said: “Urgent, collective action is needed to combat racism throughout this country. We need to treat racism as a scourge in much the same way we commit to addressing child abuse and family violence.” 

“This scoping report is the next step in developing a long-term framework to guide actions on anti-racism and equality by government, NGOs, business, communities, and others.  

“A national anti-racism framework will provide strategies and specific actions to tackle racism in its interpersonal, institutional, and systemic forms,” Commissioner Tan said. 

The scoping report is the outcome of more than 100 consultations in 48 locations with communities, sector organisations, service providers, human rights agencies, government, and experts between March 2021 and April 2022. The Commission also received 164 public submissions – a third of which came from individuals.  

As the culmination of these consultations and submissions, the scoping report identifies key considerations for the principles that should underpin a framework, three cross-cutting themes consistently raised by participants, and three sector-specific priority areas to guide this work moving forward.   

One overarching principle was widespread acknowledgement of the need to centre First Nations experiences, including the experience of colonisation and its ongoing impacts. 

The cross-cutting themes and sector-specific priority areas being: 

  1. Data 

  1. Education 

  1. Cultural safety 

  1. Media regulation and standards  

  1. Justice  

  1. Legal protections  

The report also outlines a process solution to progress existing anti-racism work in Australia. 

The Commission is pleased to announce that the Australian Government’s commitment of funding to a National Anti-Racism Strategy will allow for further comprehensive consultations and co-design processes in advancing a National Anti-Racism Framework. We would greatly appreciate and welcome your continued support during the next phase of development. 

The Commission is pleased to release the interim scoping report, available for pdf download directly from this webpage, or accessible word version from this webpage of the Australian Human Rights Commission

National Anti-Racism Framework Banner
National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report 2022 (PDF, 6.29 MB)

Myths and Misconceptions About Racism: Fact Sheets

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

We have launched a new suite of factsheets, based on the original guide, breaking down five of the most persistent myths and misconceptions about racism:  

  1. The misconception that racism is only about individual actions and beliefs   
  2. The myth of meritocracy   
  3. The misconception of not “seeing” race   
  4. The myth that “racism is a thing of the past”   
  5. Misconceptions about anti-racism   

These resources consist of individual factsheets that unpack each of these myths and misconceptions and expand on the Myths & Misconceptions self-reflection and education guide published last year. While the original guide was intended to deepen understandings of race, racism and anti-racism in Australia, the new factsheets build on this foundation. The factsheets explore how the myths came about, and how they continue to influence our everyday lives, presented in a concise and accessible format.  

These resources have been designed to strengthen our understanding of racism and how it operates on a systemic level. Importantly, they also provide practical ways to challenge racism and enact change.

You can download the fact sheets through the links below: 

You can also download A3 poster versions of the fact sheets as well! These posters are perfect for a wide range of settings, including workplaces, libraries, schools, doctors’ offices, community centres, and many more. Wherever you display them, they’ll help spark important conversations that help to promote anti-racism. 

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Resources

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

The fact sheets and lesson plan are designed to support individual and organisational conversations about the importance of keeping the focus of IDERD on ending all forms of racial discrimination and injustice.

The schools’ fact sheet and lesson plan have been written for students in Years 9 and 10. This content has been aligned to outcomes in the Australian Curriculum.

The general and translated factsheets have been written for an older audience and are suitable for workplaces, community centres and other institutions.

The fact sheets describe how ‘Harmony Week’ is an example of the way language can be used to sweep the harms of racism under the rug. This doesn’t help people experiencing racism. Instead, it reinforces inequality and maintains the status quo.

In contrast, having open discussions about racism demonstrates a commitment to tackling racism when it occurs and preventing it in the future. Discussing racism honestly and openly helps develop more advanced racial awareness and provides the space to plan and act for change.

The IDERD fact sheet has also been translated into a range of different languages.

Downloads

Fact sheet – General

How 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism in PDF

(159.14 KB) 

How 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism in Word

 (152.02 KB)

 

Fact sheet – For schools

How ‘harmony’ hides systemic racism in PDF

(166.36 KB) 

How ‘harmony’ hides systemic racism in Word

 (152.58 KB)

 

Lesson Plan – For Years 9 and 10

Lesson Plan for IDERD: Years 9 - 10 in PDF

(177.25 KB) 

Lesson Plan for IDERD: Years 9 - 10 in Word

 (155.38 KB)

 

Translations

While information on the Australian Human Rights Commission's website is mainly presented in English, the IDERD Fact sheet resource has been translated into a range of different languages:

Arabic

Burmese

Dari

Simplified Chinese

 

Traditional Chinese

Vietnamese

National Anti-Racism Framework

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Background

Phase I

In March 2021, the Commission called for a National Anti-Racism Framework and released a Concept Paper outlining guiding principles, outcomes, and strategies.

The Commission then undertook consultations with peak and community organisations, service providers, government departments and agencies, experts, and community members. 100 consultations were undertaken with approximately 300 organisations. The Commission partnered with community peaks and organisations as well as government departments to conduct 10 community consultations across the nation. The Commission also called for public submissions between October 2021 and February 2022 and received 164 submissions. The Commission released its National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report in December 2022. 

Phase II 

Since then, in addition to the below community consultations, the Commission has undertaken and commissioned additional research to progress the findings from the initial scoping phase including in the areas of data collection, anti-Asian racism and health. 

This year extensive community consultations about a National Anti-Racism Framework were undertaken. This included consultations with over 496 First Nations people across Australia, from diverse populations including those with metropolitan, rural and remote backgrounds, varying ages, genders and socio-economic backgrounds, and sectoral representation. These involved one-on-one interviews and focus groups, both in place and virtual, an online survey and group submissions, ensuring a wide range of voices were heard. 

Consultations with negatively racialised communities were also conducted, led by 18 organisations and comprised of 44 community consultations with over 860 participants. The consultations were conducted across all states and territories including remote, regional, and metropolitan areas, with a majority conducted face to face and others online. They included intersectional focus areas of LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; refugees and asylum seekers; older people; young people (18-25 years); people and communities of faith; new and emerging communities; and communities with prominent caste systems.  

Shift from Interpersonal Racism to Systemic Racism 

The findings from this initial scoping process were shared in the National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report in December 2022. The Scoping Report indicated strong support from participants across the board for a Framework as an overarching and coherent approach to anti-racism. Across the board, participants affirmed that First Nations self-determination, sovereignty and truth-telling should be central to the Framework. The following themes and sectors were also identified as areas of focus:

  • Data collection
  • Education and Public Awareness
  • Cultural Safety
  • Legal protections and Justice
  • Health
  • Media

 

Related reading

The following reports have contributed to the National Anti-Racism Framework:

Acknowledgments 

The Commission recognises the ongoing strength and leadership of Australia’s First Peoples in leading anti-racism efforts since colonisation.

The Commission acknowledges the vast emotional and intellectual labour of the community, particularly those with lived experiences of racism, who shared their vision for a National Anti-Racism Framework that takes a transformative approach to addressing racism in Australia.

Image design copyright Bree Buttenshaw for Saltwater People (2024).

NARF_Full_Report_FINAL_DIGITAL_ACCESSIBLE.pdf

An Anti-Racism Framework: Voices of First Nations Peoples

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Key findings relate to:

  • systemic racism
  • unconscious bias
  • historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation
  • over-policing and incarceration, and
  • accountability

Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to reform systems, educate individuals, 
and ensure meaningful representation and accountability for First Nations peoples.

The report makes recommendations for:

  • legislative reform
  • accountability mechanisms
  • First Nations advisory bodies
  • standardised cultural safety education
  • cross-sector workforce strategies, and
  • a standalone First Nations Anti-Racism Framework.
     

This report was produced for the Commission by First Nations Collective Consulting. The Commission is deeply grateful to all those who took part in the consultations and who shared their concerns, priorities and solutions.

The report’s findings were the subject of the 10th annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture. You can watch the lecture on our YouTube channel.

Downloads

Final Report_National Anti-Racism Framework, First Nations Consultations, Australian Human Rights Commission.pdf

Race Reporting Handbook

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Journalists play a critical role in the way people are racialised. That’s why the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Media Diversity Australia, has produced the Race Reporting Handbook to help overcome misrepresentation and stereotyping.

From reporting on First Nations people reinforcing stereotypes to the cultural burden placed on people with lived experience of racism in newsrooms, the handbook reveals the inequity in our current media landscape and includes tips for newsrooms to overcome it.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said: “The media has the power to decide who tells stories, whose stories are told, and how they are told. If you are white, you are often centred in nearly every aspect of the media and rarely, if ever, need to be concerned about the way in which the media represents your race.”

"Responsible reporting which is built on racial literacy is essential for creating any anti-racist society. It’s time to shift narratives from sensationalist headlines and move to editorial decision-making that are reflective of stories that showcase strengths rather than diminish negatively racialised communities.

“The handbook contains principles and checklists for anti-racist journalistic and editorial practices, including recruitment for greater diversity in media workplaces. Inclusive storytelling will better amplify underrepresented voices for more robust reporting,” Commissioner Sivaraman said. 

Media Diversity CEO Mariam Veiszadeh highlighted the need for the handbook at a critical juncture in the Australian media landscape.

“If a person were of an Anglo background, would you, for example, reference their race? This is a crucial question to consider.

“Enhancing the racial literacy of a sector that informs and shapes the health of our democracy can result in more nuanced and inclusive reporting, greater audience reach, and a stronger, more resilient democracy.

The Race Reporting Handbook addresses how to combat structural and systemic racism in Australia's media landscape. It emphasises an anti-racist approach to reporting to assist media professionals in building stronger community connections and adopting more inclusive editorial policies.

MDA Race Reporting Handbook 2024.pdf

"5 Common Myths and Misconceptions about Racism" Self-Reflection and Education Guide

Submitted by kate_riswm on

This self-reflection and education guide was developed by the Racism. It Stops WIth Me Campaign Team with advice and editorial input from IndigenousX. This guide was developed to support people to build their racial literacy and their confidence in identifying and thinking critically about things that arise when learning about race and racism in Australia. 

The way race and racism are talked about in Australia has largely been shaped by the ongoing impacts of British colonisation since it began in 1788. This has led to structural and systemic racism across the continent, which are deeply rooted in myths and misconceptions. These myths and misconceptions can often prevent us from having meaningful and productive conversations about race or addressing racism. 

Building awareness and understanding of these concepts equips us in conversations about race and racism and supports us to develop our personal anti-racism practice and skillset. 

Who is this guide for?

This resource aims to support you to develop your anti-racism skillset. 

The myths and misconceptions explored in this guide are common barriers to challenging our pre-existing ideas and learning more about racism. This resource will equip you with the tools to break down this barrier, learn more about race and racism and have productive conversations about combatting racism in our communities. 

What does this guide cover?

This guide explores the following common myths and misconceptions:

  1. The misconception that racism is about individual actions and beliefs.
  2. The myth of meritocracy.
  3. The misconception of not “seeing” race.
  4. The myth that “racism is a thing of the past”.
  5. Misconceptions about anti-racism.

 

Download the PDF

Download the Digital Print File

Download the Accessible Word version 

 

If you would like to let us know about how you have used this resource for a project or initiative to support anti-racism in your workplace, community, or school, simply email antiracismsecretariat@humanrights.gov.au. We are keen to hear about it and share it with our wider supporter network.

 

5 common myths and misconceptions about racism
three, the misconception of not "seeing" race
One, the misconception that racism is about individual actions
Four, the myth that "racism is a thing of the past"
two, the myth of meritocracy
five, misconceptions about anti-racism
Myths and Misconceptions Guide PDF Download

Education, Action & Change

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Divided into three parts, the anti-racism resource provides a blueprint for teachers and educators to understand and address racism.

Part one, education, outlines racism and its impacts.
 
Part two of the resource, action, addresses the actions someone can take to combat racism and have necessary conversations.

Part three of the resource, change, provides suggestions for changes teachers and educators can make to dismantle racism in education and outlines strategies for all levels of education.
 

You can learn more about the resource and download it on Reconciliation South Australia's website. 

Guide to conducting a ‘Cultural Temperature Check’ within your organisation

Submitted by monique.duggan on

The ultimate goal of a cultural temperature check is the creation of a culturally safe and racially equitable workplace environment through practical, meaningful, and active anti-racism strategies.

A cultural temperature check should identify any structural barriers, risks, or issues in relation to the current promotion and implementation of cultural diversity and anti-racism in your workplace. As well as this, it should seek to foster self-reflection by engaging with staff at all levels on the impacts of power and privilege. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC’s) Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool is a great first step to assessing the current level of cultural inclusivity within your organisation. This tool can be used in tandem with this guide (available for download below) to conduct a comprehensive check of your organisation. These resources are directly geared towards creating positive change and embedding anti-racism in the workplace.

 

Guide to Organisational Cultural Temperature Check (PDF & WORD).zip
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