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In Brief
- A landmark study of more than 76,000 students and staff has revealed ‘systemic’ racism across Australian universities.
- Universities Australia said the findings were deeply troubling and there was no room for discrimination on campuses.
Universities are coming under fire for their inadequate response to deep-seated racism affecting Jewish and Palestinian students and staff, according to recent findings. A pivotal report from the Australian Human Rights Commission, published on Tuesday, highlights a troubling pattern of discrimination extending beyond these groups to include those of Indigenous, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, Pasifika, Māori, and Muslim descent.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman emphasized the systemic nature of this issue, noting, “Racism at university is not confined to isolated incidents or individual behavior; it is systemic.” He added, “Racism is pervasive across the sector, affecting many groups in serious ways.”
The report sheds light on the significant toll this discrimination takes, impacting individuals’ identity, self-esteem, well-being, and safety. The findings call for urgent attention and action from educational institutions to address and dismantle these harmful patterns of behavior and create a more inclusive environment for all students and staff.
“Racism is pervasive across the sector, affecting many groups in serious ways.”
The discrimination damaged people’s identity and self-esteem as well as their well-being and safety, he said.
More than 90 per cent of Jews and Palestinians reported experiencing racism due to their religion or ethnicity at university, according to the Racism@Uni Study, which surveyed more than 76,000 students and staff from 42 universities in September.
More than eight in 10 respondents from Indigenous, Chinese, Middle Eastern and northeast Asian backgrounds reported racism.
However, only 6 per cent of people made a complaint about the racism they suffered, with trust in the university process low.
The study’s 47 recommendations included universities having a positive duty to stamp out racism, the creation of national and university-specific anti-racism plans and more reporting and transparency requirements.
Universities Australia labelled the findings deeply troubling, saying racism had no place at universities.
“No one should feel unsafe, diminished or excluded because of their culture, faith or background,” the peak body said in a statement.
“Universities accept our responsibility to confront racism wherever it occurs.
“We will continue listening, learning and acting together to ensure our universities live up to the standards our communities rightly expect.”
Noting institutions were bound to ensure academic freedom and freedom of speech, this could never be used to justify spreading harm or impacting another person’s rights, Universities Australia said.
Education Minister Jason Clare flagged major changes as the federal government considers the report’s recommendations.
“We’ll comb through it and respond in due course,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“But one of (the recommendations) … is to raise that standard that universities need to comply with.
“We’ve already said that we will do that, and that work’s underway.”
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