Responding to racism and support services for people who have experienced racism

Antisemitism, Anti-Palestinian racism, Anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia

The Australian Human Rights Commission is concerned about the increase in racism targeting people from Jewish, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities. This can take many forms including:

• Hate speech – offensive comments, racial slurs or stereotyping.
• Harassment – threats, intimidation or bullying, online or in-person.
• Discrimination – unfair treatment in employment, education or services.
• Violence and vandalism – physical attacks or damage to places of worship, homes or businesses.
• Misinformation and conspiracy theories - spreading false claims that reinforce negative biases.
• Gender-based discrimination – women can be at high-risk of racist attacks based on their cultural identities.

What do I do if I experience racism?

If you experience or witness any of this behaviour, there are steps you can take to protect yourself or others, and seek support:

Report it

Police

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 000. If you are threatened or experience violence, report it to the police immediately. Taking a support person with you may help you feel safe while making a report.

You can also report behaviour that you think might be a criminal offense after an incident by phoning the police on 131 444.

Make a complaint

The Australian Human Rights Commission is committed to addressing all forms of racism. We:

• Investigate and try to resolve complaints of discrimination and racial hatred.
• Provide guidance on anti-racism policies and education.
• Work with communities to promote understanding and inclusion.

If you would like to find out more information or make a complaint under the Racial Discrimination Act, you can contact our National Information Service or make a complaint on our website. More detailed information, including translated factsheets about racial discrimination complaints is available.  

Women experiencing discrimination can also make a complaint under the Sex Discrimination Act.

Information on how you can also make complaint in your language is also available.

eSafety Commissioner

For online hate speech or harassment, report the content to the relevant social media platform and eSafety Commissioner.

Community organisations

Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ): Incidents of antisemitism occurring in Australia can be reported on the ECAJ website.

Incidents of Islamophobia occurring in Australia can be reported directly on the Islamophobia register website.

State and territory anti-discrimination commissions

You may also be able to make a complaint to your state or territory-based anti-discrimination commission. What is unlawful can vary depending on where you live, more information about the reporting process can be found at the below websites.

• Australian Capital Territory
  ACT Human Rights Commission
• New South Wales
  Anti-Discrimination NSW
• Northern Territory
  Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
• Queensland
  Queensland Human Rights Commission
• South Australia
  South Australia Equal Opportunity Commission
• Tasmania
  Equal Opportunity Tasmania
• Victoria
  Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
• Western Australia
  Western Australia Equal Opportunity Commission
   

Further information

• Racism in Australian universities