Lisa Sarago, Co-Founder and CEO of Land On Heart and Land on Heart Foundation, is calling for zero tolerance towards racism in Australian schools in the same way bullying is not tolerated.
It might surprise you to know that New South Wales and Victoria are the only two states in Australia that survey students about racism. It seems like a no-brainer that all schools should prioritise addressing racism and racial discrimination to ensure the safety of their students. Surveying students is a crucial tool in allowing us to understand the prevalence of racism from their individual perspectives as well as understand the level of racist attitudes and incidents within schools to be able to build a constructive way forward.
The Speak Out Against Racism (SOAR) survey published in 2019 found one-third of NSW and Victorian government school students have experienced racial discrimination from their peers. This statistic is alarming, but I would suggest that in reality, it is most probably much higher than that. To measure racism, we need to carefully articulate the incidence of racism and analyse this against the demographic of the school and other contexts in which racism can present.
As an Indigenous woman and past student in Queensland’s public school system, I can attest to witnessing and experiencing racism from teachers, principals, and fellow students. There were no mechanisms for students to report such incidents (and they weren’t acknowledged as racism by the powers that be), let alone for concerned parents if they wanted to report such incidents. Given the current racial climate in Queensland, it’s concerning that the government has chosen not to prioritise the cultural and psychological safety of their non-white students.
With the rise of overt racism and mistruths being spread through social media, particularly in the wake of the Referendum, there is a dire need for education within Australia to not only appreciate and understand the Indigenous cultures of this country but also to further dispel the mistruths about our people that are weaponised against us. This only supports the need for more education and understanding of the context of racism in Australia – starting with our children.
What exactly is racial discrimination?
Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual based on their race, ancestry, ethnic or national origin, and/or skin colour. In schools, it can present in many ways, including through overt acts such as racist bullying (bullying someone because of their ethnicity), lack of access to resources, and unfair treatment – particularly when it comes to punishment.
When measuring racism, we need to ensure that we are measuring the right parameters and asking the right questions, this includes:
- Ensuring that the definition of racism and racial discrimination are clearly articulated and understood by students
- Analysis that shows the incidence of racism experienced by those that are non-white students
- Asking questions about whether people had witnessed racism or racial discrimination, with a follow-up question if they intervened in the situation.
Cultural safety in schools
I think everyone can agree that all children should have the right to an education in a culturally and psychologically safe environment. Therefore, measuring racism provides the information necessary to start addressing the context of racism and allows appropriate programs to be implemented to eliminate it. This includes having appropriate reporting systems in place to ensure there is an avenue for people to have issues addressed appropriately and safely.
As with zero-tolerance bullying policies in most (if not all) schools in Australia, there should equally be zero tolerance towards racism – particularly given that racism is an illegal act in this country.
This process starts with building intercultural capabilities within schools to ensure that inclusivity can occur. This approach includes incorporating inclusion into strategic planning, policy, and within the physical school environment.
Some practical tips on addressing racism and creating a culturally inclusive space which schools can implement at no or little cost include:
- Having senior leadership within the school champion anti-racism campaigns and inclusivity programs.
- Ensure that strategic planning includes addressing racism and identifying goals for increasing inclusivity. This involves community engagement, policy reform, and establishing mechanisms for reporting incidents for both students and parents, as well as the delivery of programs aimed at increasing awareness of racism and inclusivity.
- Working closely with community leaders to ensure that the school is addressing racism and discrimination (and not assuming success).
- Creating opportunities where students can lead activities aimed at promoting positive aspects of their culture and sharing their experiences and activities with fellow students.
These are just a few tips which can easily be implemented within the schooling system. Ensuring that programs on Indigenous culture or creating a platform to raise awareness and promote the positive aspects of Indigenous culture should always be led by Indigenous people. Therefore, creating a strong, healthy relationship with the Indigenous community is paramount to the success of any inclusivity program and addressing racism in the school environment.
Racism and the tech industry
Addressing racism in schools is critical to ensuring that there is a pathway for our people into an industry such as tech which lacks diversity. It is within the schooling system, where the pathway into tech starts. This includes exposure and facilitating interest in the industry, as well as basic skill development in tech. Racism can lead to negative feelings towards schooling in general and can result in some students losing interest as well as choosing not to continue or not to engage with higher learning. As there is limited representation of lndigenous people within the tech industry, it is critical that all efforts are made at the schooling level to reduce the number of barriers to the tech industry – that includes eliminating racism.
In a time when we are focused on Closing the Gap, ensuring students are not facing unfair treatment, have access to the appropriate resources, and enjoy a culturally safe environment at school is critical to ensure that all barriers are removed to meet the target for education. Racism within schools (including systemic racism), not only presents barriers to students achieving their potential but creates negative experiences with learning, leading to disengagement and discontinuation into further education.
This is why it’s so important that we analyse when, how, and why racism is occurring in our schools. Our children are our future leaders – and there is no better way to eradicate racism and strengthen the positive narrative surrounding our people for a better future for all Australians than through our children and their education.
About the author
As an Indigenous leader, Lisa Sarago, CEO and cofounder of Land on Heart and Land on Heart Foundation, has been a long advocate for empowering young Indigenous people and believes that anti-racism strategies must include tailored support for Indigenous youth who have unique experiences with racism. Lisa believes there are critical considerations school boards must take on board to ensure future strategies to tackle racism in schools can support Indigenous youth.
