A staggering 70 percent of university students and staff have experienced indirect racism, including hearing or seeing racist behaviour directed at their community.
More than 76,000 students and staff from 42 universities participated in the study commissioned by the Australian Government.
There were high rates of racism experienced by people with First Nations, African, Asian, Jewish, Maori, Middle Eastern, Muslim, Palestinian and Pasifika backgrounds, as well as international students.
The findings from the study, led by Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman, highlight that racism is deeply embedded across all Australian universities and has profound impacts on students and staff.
In the report, Mr Sivaraman said the racism experienced at Australian universities was not limited to interpersonal acts.
“It is deeply entrenched in university policies and practices,” Mr Sivaraman wrote.
“These structures exclude, dismiss and invalidate – even if no racial slurs are said.
“Let this report be a turning point in how we understand racism at university, as well as how we commit to ending it.”
The 248-page report titled Respect at Uni: Study into antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people was commissioned in May 2024 and makes 47 recommendations to the Government and universities.
Key findings include:
- 70 percent experience indirect racism, including hearing or seeing racist behaviour directed at their community
- 15 percent experience direct interpersonal racism at university
- Jewish (religious) and Palestinian respondents report experiences of racism at rates over 90 percent
- First Nations, Chinese, Jewish (secular), Middle Eastern and Northeast Asian respondents all report experiences of racism at rates over 80 percent
- 19 percent of respondents, who did not report experiencing direct or indirect racism at university, report witnessing racism
- Only six percent of people who experience direct racism made a complaint to their university, with many citing fear of consequences
- Trust in university complaints systems is extremely low, with the 60-80 percent of staff and students who experience racism reporting dissatisfaction with the process
- Racism occurs at similar rates at all Australian universities, confirming it is a systemic issue.
Five Recommendations
The report calls for a coordinated, sector‑wide approach aligned with the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti‑Racism Framework focusing on five interconnected outcomes:
1. A national framework for anti‑racism in universities
2. Inclusive and safe universities, free from racism
3. Accountable universities with trusted, accessible complaints systems
4. Inclusive curriculum and teaching
5. Diverse leadership and workforce
