Thursday 11 June
New Report Released Today Highlights Racism in Australian Schools Remains a Persistent and Harmful Reality. MYAN Releases Blueprint for Reform.
Melbourne, Australia
Racism remains a daily reality for many young people in Australian schools, and current responses are failing to match its scale and harm.
Today, the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN) released a major new report calling for urgent, coordinated national action to tackle racism in Australian schools and create safer, more inclusive learning environments.
The Racism in Schools Policy Paper draws on research and the lived experiences of young people to show how schools too often minimise or misidentify racism as general bullying, leaving students unsupported and unprotected. While there are promising initiatives across the country, responses remain too fragmented to address the problem systemically.
The report also outlines the case for a National Anti-Racism Framework in schools, drawing on a literature review of the prevalence and impacts of racism on young people in educational settings.
“Young people are telling us clearly: racism is happening in schools, and current approaches are not enough,” said Carmel Guerra OAM, MYAN Chairperson. “This report is not just a call for change, it is a practical roadmap for action.”
Racism is harming students right now
The report highlights the significant and ongoing impacts of racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and those from culturally diverse backgrounds, including:
- Social exclusion and marginalisation
- Disengagement from education
- Serious mental health challenges
By failing to recognise racism as a distinct and systemic issue, schools are unable to respond effectively, allowing harm to persist.
A fragmented system is falling short
While some states and territories, including Victoria and New South Wales, have stand-alone anti-racism policies, MYAN’s analysis shows major inconsistencies nationwide, with most schools still relying on broad anti-bullying frameworks that do not address the specific nature of racism.
“When schools fail to recognise racism for what it is, they minimise both its reality and its impact on young people,” said Shannon White, National Policy Alliance Co-Chair and MYAN National Policy & Advocacy Lead. “Treating racism as general bullying ignores its systemic and deeply harmful nature and makes meaningful responses less likely.”
Call for a National Anti-Racism in School Framework
MYAN is calling on governments and education systems to implement a comprehensive, enforceable National Anti-Racism Framework embedded across Australian schools.
Key priorities include:
- Explicit and consistent anti‑racism policies in all schools
- Establishing strong accountability for incidents of racism
- Recognising and addressing systemic bias and discrimination
- Delivering programs that affirm and celebrate cultural identity
Young people are calling for change
At the centre of the report is a clear message from young people: enough is enough.
Students need schools where they feel safe, respected, and valued, and where racism is taken seriously, not ignored.
“When schools become places that replace curiosity and adventure with places of confusion, fear and humiliation, we do the young people who walk into these environments a major disservice. This report should not just be a conversation starter but rather serve as a critical shake up and wake up call. And we must act now.” — Nayonika Bhattacharya, MYAN Senior Youth Advisor
-ENDS-
For more information about MYAN’s work, visit myan.org.au
Media Contact
Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN)
Email: enews@myan.org.au
Phone: 0498437380