ARCOs
Information about the Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO) and resources to support their role.
Who can be an ARCO
The Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO) is a teacher or executive member of staff who has been nominated by the principal to support anti-racism education in the school. The ARCO should:
- be a full-time experienced teacher or executive member
- be trusted by students, staff, parents/carers and the school community
- have good communication and interpersonal skills
- have a commitment to anti-racism education.
The cultural, linguistic or religious background of a teacher is not a criterion for selecting an ARCO. Depending on the size of the school and the needs of the school community, the principal may decide to nominate several ARCOs. For example, principals may nominate ARCOs for specific learning stages or to support wellbeing structures in the school.
Training
Principals are responsible for ensuring that newly nominated ARCOs complete the ARCO blended online training course. This training develops understanding of racism and the ARCO role and aims to increase confidence in supporting complaints of racism. An experienced ARCO, who has training as an ARCO tutor, will usually deliver the training. ARCOs are required to refresh their training every four years. Principals who handle complaints of racism may also complete this training. More information is available on the Professional support page.
The role of the ARCO
The ARCO plays an important role in assisting and working collaboratively with the principal to implement major aspects of the Anti-Racism Policy:
| Promote anti-racism education | Support the reporting process | Collect data |
|---|---|---|
provide advice on incorporating whole school anti-racism education strategies in school planning facilitate professional learning to build awareness of the impact of racism on social cohesion, student learning and wellbeing assist teachers to access resources which build awareness and understanding of the impacts of racism promote upstander responses to incidents of racism for staff and students. |
provide advice to students, staff and community members about how to report racism support teachers to address reports of racism involving students through approaches such as restorative practice which promote respectful behaviours manage reports of racism made by students against other students in accordance with the Student behaviour policy and the school's behaviour procedures provide impartial support to the person making the report of racism during the process to increase the likelihood of a satisfactory outcome provide advice related to the impact of racism to the principal and/or nominated staff member managing the report. |
maintain records of reports of racism and outcomes identify which datasets regarding racism should be collected analyse significant statistical trends in relation to complaints of racism. |
Promoting the role of the ARCO
It is important that all members of the school community know who the ARCO is and what they do. Principals should make the school and wider community aware of the Complaints handling policy and the Community complaint procedures, and the support available for reporting racism. Information about the procedures for making reports of racism should be included at least once each year in school communications. Newsletters, parent and student meetings, assemblies, posters and social media may be used to raise awareness about the role of the school ARCO.
Sample text for a letter to parents and carers is provided on the School Leaders webpage about the Anti-Racism Policy and the role of the ARCO.
Information for parents and carers has been translated into 36 languages and is available at Anti-Racism Policy - information for parents and carers.
Resources and support for ARCOs
Information about ARCO mandatory training and ways you can connect with other ARCOs through local networks and the Anti-Racism Education statewide staffroom are available on the Anti-Racism - Professional support webpage.
The SBAR resource hub provides information on resources allocated to schools to support the ARCO role.
Anti-racism poster sets can be ordered from Henry Parkes Equity Resource Centre:
Contact us
For additional information, contact antiracismeducation@det.nsw.edu.au.