The fact sheet is designed to support individual and organisational conversations about the importance of keeping the focus of IDERD on mobilising against all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination and injustice. The fact sheet describes how ‘Harmony Week’ is an example of the way language can be used to reframe anti-racism, and operates to reinforce inequality and maintain the status quo.

In contrast, having proactive, open discussions about racism demonstrates a commitment to tackling racism when it occurs and preventing it in the future. A nuanced approach to discussing racism in the context of IDERD enables the development of more advanced racial awareness, and provides the space to strategise for change.

We hope this fact sheet assists you in taking the opportunity IDERD presents to meaningfully acknowledge Australia’s deep-seated issues with race and racism, question the various ways racism shapes our society, and redouble our commitment to anti-racism.

A PDF version of the fact sheet is available to download below.

Download an accessible Word version of the fact sheet here (opens in new window). 

The Fact Sheet is also available in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese via this page (opens in new window) of the Australian Human Rights Commission's website.

Our race believes that stories are most powerful when the truth and the narrative is controlled by the Story Teller.

A range of services, supports, resources and information are available. Visit Our Race's website

In their own words:

"Our Race is a social enterprise with an emphasis on the redemptive and restorative nature of Story Telling in a culturally diverse social environment. We educate and advocate for the empowerment of Story Tellers, and an inclusive and intelligent approach to Story Telling by organisations and the wider community.

 We seek to flip the prevailing power imbalance of our social environment by developing and sharing tools and techniques to enable Story tellers and communities to create and direct their own Stories, thereby deriving the maximum benefit.

 We acknowledge and value the strength and example of First Nations’ Story Telling in which our own approach is grounded. Cultural knowledge and safety in practice are honoured and prioritised as the basis for a more ethical and transformative approach to Story Telling.

 We believe in genuine engagement, reflection, critique and continual improvement to move towards restorative justice. We are committed to an anti-racist, intersectional approach, which is informed by an immersive commitment.

 Although our approach embraces the wellbeing of the individual, we believe in challenging the broader colonial narrative and replacing it with the counterstory. Through a membership-based model we provide spaces, in person and online, where we can confront racist and other oppressive practices through education, capacity building, democratising information and encouraging a transformational, ethical Story Telling and engagement approach.

We aim to create a sustainable, humanistic model which will provide spaces for more voices to be heard, without the compromising conditions generally placed on marginalised groups. We do this through our language of Transformational Ethical Story Telling."

Diversity Focus website (opens in new window) 

MindTribes website 

How organisations can stand up to and end workplace racism resource.

https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/employers/workplace-discrimination-and-harassment-policy-template

This resource: 

• documents the Wyndham pilot project, detailing the work accomplished and the issues explored, and 
• offers practical guidance on how similar anti-racism support networks and services can be developed and implemented. 

The report aims to encourage and assist local councils and other actors improve support services and reporting pathways for people who have experienced racism. 

Welcoming Cities Accreditation Overview (opens in new window, PDF, 179KB)

A guide for local councils to become members of the Welcoming Cities Network. Councils are invited to complete the assessment and undertake accreditation to benchmark progress and identify gaps in their welcoming and inclusion practices.

United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples webpage (opens in new window).

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples around the world. The Declaration elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.

Cultural diversity guidance resource (PDF, 372kb). 

The Law Society of NSW recognises that creating an environment where every person, regardless of their background, has opportunities and support to reach their professional potential can result in better outcomes for the community at large, and better business outcomes for the profession.

The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, cultural diversity guidance encourages workplaces to actively consider their recommendations towards improving cultural diversity in the legal profession.