Racism in Universities a threat to Indigenous students and staff

Indigenous students and staff have described facing significant structural and interpersonal racism in Australian universities, accordion to an Australian Human Rights Commission study.

Achievements by First Nations students and staff are often undermined by being characterised as ‘special treatment’ rather than a result of merit, the report states.

“Limited understanding of the historical and systemic discrimination faced by First Nations people and ongoing experiences of racism were noted as barriers to participation by students and staff.”

The Federal Government tasked the commission to undertake the study last year and update parliament on its progress.

The commission’s interim report on racism at Australian universities has underlined a range of worrying issues and experiences during work and/or study.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman, pictured, said “it has a profoundly negative impact on First Nations students and staff”.

“Staff told us about feeling ‘othered’ and less confident expressing their opinions or identity, with high levels of casual employment and a hierarchical academic structure compounding these issues,” he said.