Anti-racism
Direction and guidance on preventing and eliminating all forms of racism in NSW public education.
Audience
All employees, students attending NSW public schools, parents, carers, volunteers and contractors.
| Version | Date | Description of changes | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
| V06.0.0 | 10/05/2024 | Updated under the 2023 Policy and procedure review program, including conversion into the new template and minor word changes. | Executive Director Educational Standards |
Document history
2022 Oct 10 - updated links in policy statement to align with the updated Student Behaviour policy. Also updated links and references in the implementation document, Anti-Racism Education.
2022 Aug 09 - updated links in policy statement.
2022 Apr 1 updated the implementation document for clarity and to provide new link to translated information for parents and carers on the Anti-Racism policy and on the role of the Anti-Racism Contact Officers.
Added links in the related documents section to the translated information for parents and carers, as well as to the Anti-Racism Education website.
2022 Jan 28 - updated policy statement and implementation document - the revised Anti-Racism policy more closely aligns the department's anti-racism and Aboriginal education priorities, and provides greater support and training for all staff in addressing racism.
2020 Nov 04 - Added a new related document: Walking Together, Working Together - Partnership Agreement between AECG and DoE.
2020 May - updated contact details, links and some minor style changes.
Policy includes updated links, Implementation documents provided in PDF format and included on internet. References to Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act (2000) removed.
Superseded documents
The following three documents have been superseded by Anti-Racism Education: Advice for Principals:
Anti-Racism Contact Officers
Anti-Racism: Complaints of racism
Anti-Racism: What schools can do
Anti-racism Policy statement, 1992, 92/037 (S0.21)
Anti-racism Grievance Procedures, 93/014 (S.011) superseded by Responding to Suggestions, Complaints and Allegations- PD/2002/0051/V001
- Policy statement
- The department rejects all forms of racism.
- No student, employee, parent, carer or community member should experience racism at school or in a department workplace.
- Racism has a particular impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and may take forms that are distinct from other types of racism. Staff must provide an environment of cultural safety for all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, staff, parents, carers and community members.
- To help establish and maintain culturally safe environments:
- the department entered into a partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated (NSW AECG Inc.), Walking together, working together 2020-2030 (PDF 5 MB), which fosters collaboration with schools to promote, acknowledge and value Aboriginal histories and cultures
- Aboriginal Education advisors and officers assist schools to incorporate the cultural contexts, values and practices of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities into the delivery of education.
- All staff have a responsibility to eradicate expressions of racism and challenge the attitudes that allow them to emerge by:
- recognising and respecting Aboriginal peoples as the First Peoples
- embracing the value and benefits of the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of NSW
- challenging prejudiced attitudes and ensuring that appropriate action is taken to address racist behaviours and systems that deny equitable access to educational opportunity.
- All schools are required to have a trained Anti-Racism Contact Officer who assists the principal to lead anti-racism education and address incidents of racism.
- Context
- The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) make racial discrimination and vilification illegal in NSW. The Crimes Amendment (Publicly Threatening and Inciting Violence) Act 2018 (PDF 198 KB) (NSW) makes threatening or inciting violence on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/AIDS status a criminal offence under NSW law. The Multicultural NSW Act 2000 promotes the equal rights and responsibilities of all the people of NSW. These Acts provide the legislative context for this policy.
- The NSW AECG Inc. partnership agreement, Walking together, working together 2020-2030 (PDF 5 MB), as well as the department's Aboriginal education policy, Complaints handling policy, Code of conduct policy, Management of conduct and performance policy and Multicultural education policy detail related requirements that complement this policy.
- The Anti-racism procedures support this policy.
- Other department policies, guidelines and procedures relevant to and complementing this policy include:
- Policy contact
Leader, Multicultural Education
antiracismeducation@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 2826 - Monitoring the policy
The Executive Director, Educational Standards monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.