The “An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and Perspectives of Multicultural Australia” report, commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission and authored by FECCA, presents a comprehensive account of national consultations with multicultural communities across Australia. Its purpose is to inform the development of a national anti-racism framework by centering the lived experiences, insights, and recommendations of those most affected by racism.
Overview
The report is grounded in the recognition that racism in Australia is systemic, institutional, and deeply rooted in the country’s settler colonial history. It highlights how racism manifests not only through interpersonal interactions but also through structural inequalities in schools, workplaces, healthcare, media, and law enforcement. The consultations involved over 860 participants across 44 sessions, complemented by an online survey with 411 valid responses.
Key Themes
Understanding Racism: Racism is defined as a system of oppression that creates unequal opportunities based on race. It includes interpersonal, institutional, and systemic dimensions, often intersecting with other forms of discrimination such as gender, disability, religion, and migration status.
Intersectionality: The report emphasises that racism cannot be understood in isolation. Many participants experienced overlapping forms of discrimination, particularly those from LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and caste-oppressed groups.
Systemic Racism in Institutions:
- Schools: Students from racialised backgrounds face stereotyping, exclusion, and lack of support. Teachers often hold lower expectations for these students.
- Workplaces: Discrimination in hiring, promotion, and daily interactions is widespread. Many feel unsafe reporting racism due to fear of retaliation.
- Healthcare: Participants reported biased treatment, lack of cultural competence, and disparities in care.
- Police: Mistrust and fear of law enforcement were common, with many citing racial profiling and dismissive responses to complaints.
Media Representation: Media was identified as both a contributor to racism and a potential tool for change. Participants criticised the lack of diversity in media and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
Internalised and Intra-community Racism: The report also explores how racism can be perpetuated within multicultural communities themselves, including caste-based discrimination and internalised biases.
Recommendations
The report outlines 11 key recommendations for a national anti-racism framework:
- Government Leadership: A whole-of-society approach led by government, involving public institutions and respectful discourse.
- Education Reform: Schools must teach about racism, First Nations history, and multiculturalism, with trauma-informed redress mechanisms.
- Prioritise First Nations Justice: Addressing racism against First Nations people must be central.
- Workplace Policies: Institutions must implement trauma-informed reporting and redress systems.
- Mandatory Anti-Racism Training: Especially in healthcare, police, and government sectors.
- Inclusive Recruitment: Reflect multicultural Australia in leadership and career pathways.
- Media Accountability: Increase representation and promote anti-racist narratives.
- Human Rights Legislation: Introduce a Federal Human Rights Act to ensure consistent protections.
- Lived Experience Engagement: Ensure trauma-informed consultation and respect for affected communities.
- Long-Term Funding: Support sustained anti-racism strategies and community partnerships.
- Data and Monitoring: Improve systems to track racism and evaluate anti-racism efforts.
Conclusion
This report is a powerful call to action, urging Australia to move beyond superficial diversity efforts and toward systemic change. It advocates for a national framework that is inclusive, trauma-informed, and led by those with lived experience. The findings underscore the importance of education, representation, and institutional accountability in dismantling racism and building a more equitable society.
