News

New report finds schools are the major site for youth racism

A major report released on 18 November by The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) reveals that schools are the primary setting for the experience of racism among young people.

The national study, titled The Impact of Racism upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians, also finds that 70% of secondary school students experienced at least one form of racism, with those from migrant backgrounds experiencing the highest levels.

The research involved 823 students from 18 secondary schools across Australia and examined; their experiences of racism; the effects of that racist behaviour on health and wellbeing; where that racist behaviour most often occurs; how they respond to racism, and their attitudes towards race relations generally.

Prepared by Deakin University's Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, some of the report's key findings include:

the group most at risk of racism is female first-generation migrants in Years 11 and 12
an underlying racism permeates schools across Australia with 80% of participants from non-Anglo backgrounds and 55% from Anglo backgrounds reporting experiences of racism
school education programs around racism are proven to reduce racist behaviour
the experience of racism has serious impacts on health and wellbeing.

For more information : Read The Impact of Racism upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians report here.
Read The Impact of Racism upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians: At A Glance here.
Read the media release here.

Racism, No way! is an Australian anti-racism education initiative managed by the Department of Education and Training on behalf of education systems nationally.