Australian Universities Confront 'Systemic' Racism
A landmark national report has found that racism is “deeply embedded” and “systemic” within Australian universities. The study, which included experiences of First Nations people and those with disabilities, revealed that over 70% of respondents reported experiencing racism. The findings are expected to intensify the push for broad compliance, equity, and universal design initiatives across the sector.
- The "Respect at uni" report was authored by the Australian Human Rights Commission and released on February 17, 2026, under the leadership of Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman. It is based on survey responses from over 76,000 students and staff at 42 universities. - The report details harrowing incidents, including First Nations students being compared to "petrol sniffers" in lectures, Palestinian students being taunted with shouts of "terrorism," and Jewish students facing threats like "send them to the camps." - While 15% of all respondents reported experiencing direct, interpersonal racism, the rates were significantly higher for specific groups. Over 90% of Jewish and Palestinian participants reported experiencing racism, and for First Nations, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Northeast Asian respondents, the rate was over 80%. - International students reported high rates of exclusion and social isolation, with three in four experiencing indirect racism. Many felt they were viewed as "cash cows" by the universities. - The report found that campus racism intersects with other forms of marginalization, including those related to gender, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and disability. - Current systems for addressing racism are failing, with only 6% of those who experienced direct racism having filed a formal complaint. Of those who did report, the majority were dissatisfied with the process and outcome. - A key finding was the low level of "racial literacy" — the ability to understand and confront racism — across university communities, which hampers anti-racism efforts. An audit found that only 11 of Australia's universities had advanced anti-racism policies in place. - The report issues 47 recommendations to the government and universities, with a central call for a national anti-racism framework, inclusive and culturally safe teaching practices, and diverse leadership.
