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Last updated
10/10/2022
Implementation date
05/12/2005
Reference number
PD-2005-0235-V05.1.2
Publicly available
Yes
Policy cluster
Access and equity

Anti-Racism

Commits the department to the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination in NSW public schools.

Changes since previous version

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.

Document history

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Superseded documents

The following three documents have been superseded by Anti-Racism Education: Advice for Principals;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)
Responding to Suggestions, Complaints and Allegations, 2001, PD/2002/0051/V001

  1. Policy statement
    1. The department rejects all forms of racism.
    2. No student, employee, parent, caregiver or community member should experience racism within the school environment.
    3. Racism has a particular impact on Aboriginal people and may take forms that are distinct from other types of racism. An environment of cultural safety must be provided for all Aboriginal students, staff, parents, and community members. To support this:
      1. the department has a partnership agreement with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated (NSW AECG Inc.), which fosters collaboration with schools to promote, acknowledge and value Aboriginal histories and cultures
      2. Aboriginal Education advisors and officers assist schools to incorporate the cultural contexts, values and practices of local Aboriginal communities into the mainstream delivery of education.
    4. Eradicating expressions of racism and challenging the attitudes that allow them to emerge is the shared responsibility of all NSW public school staff who contribute by:
      1. recognising and respecting Aboriginal peoples as the First Peoples of NSW
      2. embracing the value and benefits of the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of NSW
      3. challenging prejudiced attitudes and ensuring that sanctions are applied against racist behaviours and systems that deny equitable access to educational opportunity.
    5. 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.
  2. Audience and applicability
    1. All departmental employees, students attending NSW public schools, volunteers and contractors.
  3. Context
    1. The NSW Anti-Discrimination Act (1977) and the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act (1975) make racial discrimination and vilification illegal in NSW. The NSW Crimes Amendment (Publicly Threatening and Inciting Violence) Act 2018, No 32 Act 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.
    2. The NSW AECG Inc. partnership agreement Walking together, working together 2020-2030 and the OCHRE Plan, as well as the department's Aboriginal Education policy, Complaints Handling policy, Code of Conduct, Management of Conduct and Performance policy and Multicultural Education policy provide related requirements that complement this policy.
    3. Other department policies, guidelines and procedures relevant to and complementing this policy include:
  4. Responsibilities and delegations
    1. Principals:
      1. lead the development and implementation of school practices and procedures that are consistent with the policy
      2. advise all staff, students, volunteers, contractors and community members of their anti-racism responsibilities
      3. provide access to mandatory policy training for all staff
      4. nominate Anti-Racism Contact Officer/s from their teaching staff and facilitate access to training.
    2. All employees:
      1. complete the department's mandatory Anti-Racism policy training and appropriately respond to incidents of racism.
    3. All employees, students attending NSW public schools, volunteers and contractors:
      1. must not discriminate against others on the basis of their cultural, linguistic or religious background.
    4. Teachers:
      1. must address racism, promote cultural safety and intercultural understanding, encourage mutual respect and implement programs and practices that are culturally inclusive and non-discriminatory.
    5. All members of the school community including students, parents, carers and volunteers:
      1. must demonstrate respect for the cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds of others and behave in ways that promote acceptance and harmony in the school environment.
    6. Anti-Racism Contact Officers:
      1. support principals to implement anti-racism education strategies and manage complaints of racism in schools.
    7. The Leader, Multicultural Education:
      1. provides advice on the interpretation and implementation of this policy
      2. offers anti-racism education professional learning, including mandatory training for all departmental employees and training for Anti-Racism Contact Officers.
    8. Senior executive officers:
      1. monitor department practices and processes to ensure they are consistent with the policy and enable people from all cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds to participate equitably in NSW public education.
    9. The Secretary:
      1. ensures that anti-racism education strategies are included in the department's multicultural plan and its progress is reported in the department's annual and Multicultural Policies and Services Program reports.
  5. Monitoring and review
    1. The Leader, Multicultural Education monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.
  6. Contact
    Leader, Multicultural Education
    02 7814 2826
    antiracismeducation@det.nsw.edu.au

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