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: 

• Fact Sheet 1 
• Fact Sheet 2 
• Fact Sheet 3 
• Fact Sheet 4 
• Fact Sheet 5 

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. 

• A3 Poster Fact Sheet 1
• A3 Poster Fact Sheet 2
• A3 Poster Fact Sheet 3
• A3 Poster Fact Sheet 4
• A3 Poster Fact Sheet 5

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

• Read and download the National Anti-Racism Framework
• Read and download a summary of the National Anti-Racism Framework
• Read the media release 

Related reading

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

• Mapping government programs and policies relevant to anti-racism
• Race Reporting Handbook
• An Anti-Racism Framework: The Perspectives of Multicultural Australia
• Anti-Asian Racism Research Project
• An Anti-Racism Framework: Voices of First Nations Peoples

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).

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.

The Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool is a free self-assessment tool based on international best practice. The Tool is designed to support employers, managers and human resources personnel as they work to promote cultural diversity and engage in anti-racism in the workplace.

You can access an offline-version of the Tool's assessment questions below. We recommend completing the online version of the Tool, to receive analysed results, recommended resources and track your progress over time.

The Tool is reviewed and updated regularly to align with good practice, the questions within this resource are therefore subject to change. The questions in this resource are valid as of July 2023.

You can find the Tool here: https://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au/workplace-cultural-diversity-tool.

All Together Now CAPE resource 

All Together Now has been working to undermine far- right extremism in Australia. The Community Action for Preventing Extremism (CAPE) Project provides information and training on the dangers of far-right extremism in Australia.

CAPE offers two countering far-right extremism workshops, “Identifying Far-right Extremism” and “Responding to Far-right Extremism”. These workshops are designed to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the spectrum of far-right extremist groups in Australia, typical recruitment methods, and who is most at risk.

The workshops are beneficial for anyone who is interested to learn more about how far-right extremism might impact on young people in Australia today.

https://nationalseedproject.org/Key-SEED-Texts/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsack

Peggy McIntosh’s seminal essay ‘White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack’ exposes white privilege through statements that highlight privileges that are often taken for granted. Her work seeks to enable audiences to understand how people of colour experience society differently. The National Seed Project have included notes to assist facilitators present this essay.

An intimate view of enlightening, sometimes uncomfortable, family discussions focused on parents helping their children understand racism through current events and sharing their own stories about how they first became aware of racism.

Find the Creating Cultures and Practices for Racial Equity Toolkit online here

Creating Cultures and Practices for Racial Equity contains a variety of tools that emerged from Race Forward’s Racial Equity in the Arts Innovation Lab. Tools and resources are designed to help artists, arts advocates, culture bearers, and cultural workers to imagine, plan, and implement racial equity strategies in arts organizations.

https://othersociologist.com/sociology-of-race/

Dr Zuleyka Zevallos is a Peruvian-Australian applied sociologist, living on Gadigal land (Sydney).

Dr Zevallos holds a PhD in Sociology and has 20 years’ experience in research, policy and consultancy. They specialise in analysing issues of gender and sexuality, race and culture, discrimination and diversity in the workplace, social media, health and safety, and interdisciplinary research.

The Other Sociologist provides resources, research and information on race and racism.