Challenging Racism Project

The Challenging Racism Project is a research collective based at the School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University. As the leading national research program on racism and anti-racism in Australia, we are dedicated to advancing social justice, equity and harmony via rigorous research, community engagement, and the practical application of our findings.

The Challenging Racism Project was established in 2002. We support a new generation of anti-racism researchers and practitioners, partnering with government, non-government and community organisations that have a shared outlook on intergroup relations and anti-racism initiatives. Our research empowers communities to build resilience and deploy strategies to challenge racism. We provide analysis and commentary on issues of national importance, and our work is used to inform, educate, and train individuals and communities on positive interventions for culturally diverse societies.

Our research themes

• Attitudes towards difference and diversity
• Experiences of racism
• Anti-racism strategies
• Online racism and anti-racism
• Islamophobia
• Hate and extremism
• Racism, misinformation and public trust

Challenging Racism Project Responses to the Australian Universities Accord Final Report

The Final Report on the Australian Universities Accord recommends (R33) a Tertiary Education Racism Study (see also section 6.3.4.10):

"That to contribute to making the tertiary education system as safe as possible for students and staff, the Australian Government conduct a study into the prevalence and impact of racism across the tertiary education system, on campus and online, guided by an expert committee with representation from a wide range of stakeholder groups, with the Australian Tertiary Education Commission tasked with leading the response and acting on the outcomes."

A study is urgently required:

• The Challenging Racism Project (CRP) supports the call in the Australian Universities Accord Final Report for a study into the prevalence and impact of racism across the tertiary education system.
• The proposed study emphasis the experiences of First Nations staff and students, which is critically important given that the rates of experience of racism among Indigenous Australians generally are double those of non-Indigenous Australians.
• The Australian Universities Accord Final Report acknowledges that there are other groups who have experienced racism in the sector, and these need to be within focus of the study. For our research, this includes students and staff from humanitarian backgrounds, international students and staff, some religious groups, and students and staff from non-White backgrounds such as those with Pasifika, Asian, or African heritage.

Student success and access targets are commendable:

• The CRP congratulates the Accord Panel for outlining student success targets for equity groups, including First Nation Australians.
• The student success targets should also cover participation from other cultural minority groups, such as those from Pasifika and African backgrounds.
• The CRP affirms the proposal that the Australian Tertiary Education Commission will monitor and track student access and success from equity groups.

Mechanisms to report racism, and share best practice anti-racism, are also needed:

• The Australian Tertiary Education Commission should also annually track the experience of racism and safety of students and staff, whether on campus or on placement.

• The Australian Tertiary Education Commission should investigate mechanisms for university staff and students to report instances of racism in the sector.

• The Implementation Advisory Committee that advises the Minister on the Accord implementation should articulate an anti-racism monitoring role for the ATEC, including the collection and dissemination of good anti-racism practice within tertiary education settings.