Racism a constant in everyday lives of First Nations people

A groundbreaking new report has revealed the shocking prevalence of racism against First Nations people across Australia, with racist incidents reported ‘in every corner of every suburb of this country’, including in workplaces, businesses, schools and community settings.

The In Every Corner of Every Suburb report, the first annual report from the Call It Out racism register, collates and analyses 497 reports of racism from First Nations people and witnesses over 2022-2023.

Racism in the workplace is identified as a major concern, with almost a quarter (23%) of First Nations respondents reporting that they had experienced racism at work, with many people experiencing this racism as more than a one-off incident.

First Nations people are frequently subjected to violent and aggressive racism. Physical and verbal abuse, hate speech, bullying, threats, intimidation and damage to property, taken together, made up 38% of reports.

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT

•    Racist incidents were reported in every state and territory, with the highest number of reports coming from NSW (38%). Almost a quarter (23%) of people said the racism reported was ongoing.
 
•    Negative attitudes and stereotyping were the most commonly reported forms of racism (20%), with respondents reporting references to government and other ‘hand-outs’ made to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, alleged criminality, drug and alcohol use. 

•    First Nations people are subjected to a disturbingly high level of violent and aggressive racism. Physical and verbal abuse, hate speech, bullying, threats, intimidation and damage to property taken together made up 38% of reports. 

•    Racism in the workplace made up almost a quarter of reports by First Nations people and is a major issue, with many people experiencing racism as more than a one-off incident. Women were more likely to self-report racism in the workplace than men (27% compared to 19%). 

•    Institutional racism made up 10% of reports, with government institutions or agencies identified in many of these reports as the site in which the racist incidents occurred. 

Personal accounts from respondents to the report speak to the constant and ongoing racism experienced by many First Nations people.

“Systemic racism, it's everywhere. Government, institutions, agencies, public can deny it but it's real, it is bred in people of this country and others.” 

[There is] ‘racism and hate …in every corner of every suburb in this country’ (Self-report, Aboriginal male) 
[I’ve had to] deal with racism all my life’ (Self-report, Aboriginal female)

Calling out racism is an important part of addressing systemic racism, but many First Nations respondents reported significant barriers to reporting and calling out racist incidents. 

Distinguished Professor Larissa Berendht AO, Head of Research at Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney, said that the report findings show that tackling racism against First Nations people needs a whole of community response.

“The Call it Out Register was started as a response to the need for people to tell their stories. It is encouraging to see it capture experiences that might otherwise fall through the cracks of the legal system. And it provides us with the ability to think more strategically about how we confront and address racism."