Speaking out against racism
More than just reporting it
Racism remains a big challenge across Australia and Victoria and continues to have devasting effects on many people from various communities every day. But it is often very difficult to speak out against racism and to find support after experiencing racism.
A recent Victorian-wide study found that 76% of people from racially marginalised communities have faced racism – two-thirds of them also in the past 12 months. But only 15.5% of those who face racism have ever reported any such incident.
There are many different reasons for this. For example, many don’t know where and how they could seek support or are concerned that reporting could make things worse for them or their family. Others think that current reporting and anti-racism services do not offer the kind of support they need after an experience of racism: understanding, cultural safety and advocacy.
This website was set up as part of a pilot project that tries to address some of these barriers. The goal is to help make it easier to speak out against racism and vilification and to find and access the ‘right’ anti-racism support.
It provides resources about anti-racism and anti-vilification in Victoria and basic information about reporting pathways and anti-racism support services by
- three newly established local, community-led anti-racism support networks, currently active in Wyndham, Whittlesea and Melbourne’s southeast;
- key state-wide agencies such as the Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission or Victoria Police;
- other support services, including those specifically targeting certain groups of affected communities such as First Nations, Muslim or Jewish communities
News
Racism Register: New community-led initiative dedicated to documenting racism
The Racism Register is a new community-led initiative dedicated to tracking and documenting
incidents of racism across Australia. By capturing lived realities, amplifying voices too often silenced and driving meaningful action, this initiative seeks to create avenues for justice and systemic change.
People who have experienced racism can report the incidents to the Racism Register here (a full website will be launched soon): https://9bb7ink3bm9.typeform.com/to/TVFvbFTl?typeform-source=racismregister.org
You can join the official launch of this initiative on 21 March 2025, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Register for the online launch here: https://events.humanitix.com/racism-register-launch-reckoning-resistance-and-renewal
Welcome to this new website: Anti-Racism Support in Victoria
Welcome to this new website! It has been set up in responses to many voices across various communities affected racism in Victoria. Its main purpose is to provide basic information about your rights to live a life without discrimination and racism and to help you speak out and find support after you have experienced racism or vilification (hate speech).
The website highlights in particular the new support services provided by three local community-led anti-racism support networks that have been set up in Wyndham, Whittlesea and Melbourne’ southeast (Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia).
Victorian Government releases first statewide anti-racism strategy
In early December 2024, the Victorian Government presented the state’s first comprehsive anti-racism strategy, a 5-year plan to tackle racism and discrimination in Victoria.
The four priority goals of the strategy are:
Goal 1: Racist attitudes, behaviours and beliefs are recognised, challenged and rejected.
Goal 2: Government services and workplaces are safe, accessible and non-discriminatory.
Goal 3: Racism and discrimination are no longer barriers to participation, progress, safety and success across all sectors.
Goal 4: People subjected to racism receive appropriate and culturally safe services and supports.
More information: https://www.vic.gov.au/victorias-anti-racism-strategy
Proposed changes to Victoria’s hate speech and vilification laws
The Parliament of Victoria has published a Bill Brief about the proposed legal changes to strengthen the state’s anti-vilification laws. One of the key amendments refers to the proposed introduction of a harms-based protection model, where those affected by racist hate speech would not have to prove anymore that the actions have incited hatred in others.
The report offers an overview on existing legal protection mechanisms and highlights how rarely the current law has been used in the past due to high legal thresholds. The new legislation seeks to address this.
