WeeklySA_AdminINCLUSIVITY: Australian research shows that schools are the most common setting where young people experience racism…
By Own Correspondent
Students who are unsure what racism actually is, are less likely to report it, highlighting the need for clearer education, awareness and action to tackle the issue across schools.
This is one of the key findings stemming from a two-year research project led by Associate Professor Melanie Baak of the University of South Australia, which was released this week. The study was undertaken at a highly multicultural school (which is anonymous for research confidentiality) in Adelaide’s northern suburbs in Australia.
Funded by the Montebello Foundation, the project aimed to respond to and prevent racism in schools, with the participating school seeing significant improvements in student wellbeing and belonging.
The research into racism in South Australian schools highlights the need for clear, consistent frameworks to support safer, more inclusive school communities.
Findings from the study were presented this week at the University of South Australia’s Anti-Racism in Schools symposium, attended by Education Minister Blair Boyer, policy makers from the Department for Education and Catholic Education SA, and students and teachers from six South Australian schools.
Associate Professor Baak says collaboration between researchers, schools, and education authorities is key to building consistent, evidence-based responses.
“The research highlights the value of a coordinated, system-wide approach that supports schools with clear expectations, guidance and resources,” she says.
“The establishment of the Coalition for Anti-Racism in Education (CARE) network as part of this project has shown how powerful collective action can be, bringing together more than ten South Australian schools committed to addressing racism. Our findings recommend a state-level framework and dedicated departmental expertise to help create truly safe and inclusive learning environments.”
Associate Professor Baak says Australian research consistently shows that schools are the most common setting where young people experience racism, with alarming rates of incidents reported nationwide.
“Our research and existing national data tell us that racism is not rare, it’s part of many students’ everyday reality,” she says.
“At the research school site, 80 per cent of students had witnessed or experienced racism more than once in the past year, nearly half said they encountered it weekly, and one in four reported experiencing racism daily. That frequency was linked to a lower sense of belonging at school.”
Students who were unsure what racism actually is were also less likely to report it, highlighting the need for clearer education, awareness and action across schools. While New South Wales and Victoria have Department for Education anti-racism policies that outline expectations and response procedures, other states including South Australia are still exploring how best to ensure consistent and informed approaches across all schools.
“In the absence of a state-level policy, our research school took the initiative to develop its own anti-racism framework,” Associate Professor Baak says.
“This involved creating a clear reporting process for racist incidents and a restorative approach that centres on both the person who experienced racism and the person who engaged in it.
“The school also introduced classroom content focused on understanding racism, intercultural awareness, and the strengths of Australia’s cultural diversity, where the whole school approach celebrates the community’s diversity and identity.”
A year after implementing the anti-racism policy and procedures, the school recorded encouraging progress. Two-thirds of students reported improvements in how the school responds to racist incidents and their own skills to speak out against racism, and there was a seven percent reduction in the number of students who were regularly experiencing racism.
The Department for Education’s Wellbeing and Engagement Survey for the school showed notable gains between 2023 and 2025, including a six per cent rise in positive perceptions of school climate, an 11 per cent increase in students reporting a high sense of school belonging, and a six per cent increase in peer belonging.
“This is ongoing work,” Associate Professor Baak says. “Changing school culture takes time, and continued evaluation is essential to ensure the initiatives benefit both staff and students in the long term.” A leader at the research school says the project proved how important it is to have a clear response plan to racism.
“Having a focus on cultural inclusion at our school over the past three years has meant that there has been space to think and reflect as a staff about how our students are impacted by racism, and how our response as a school staff can really make a difference,” they say.
“Before, we didn’t have a clear process for reporting and responding to racism. Developing that has been a definite improvement.”
A teacher at the research school says the project has fostered stronger connection within the school community.
“Alongside our anti-racism work, students relish the opportunity to celebrate not only their own cultural backgrounds, but the cultures of others too, all of which has helped foster belonging and connection in our community,” they say.
The project builds on nearly two decades of research for Associate Professor Baak on examining racism and belonging in education, with more than ten of her research projects exploring its impact on students from migrant and refugee backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and others not racialised white.
“It’s concerning just how complex it is to address racism at a school level, where the types of racism that occurs is constantly evolving, and without clear information available, staff are often underprepared to respond effectively,” Associate Professor Baak says.
“My research has consistently shown that racism affects academic outcomes, mental health, and school completion rates. The new project offers unique insights into the long-term approaches involved in both developing school policy and initiatives as well as mapping the change across time.”
Comment
NPA IN DIRE STRAITS
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is under siege from criminal syndicates who were being supported by several corrupt judicial and police officers. This is the scary message from NPA boss, Shamila Batohi, during her recent testimony before Parliament’s Ad-hoc Committee investigating allegations of political interference, criminal infiltration and corruption in the criminal justice system.
‘’ We work in an environment where we do not know who to trust,’’ she said. Batohi’s concern is not only a plea for help by a frustrated leader whose department it is to prosecute and convict those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law. It is a wake-up call to the government that South Africa’s criminal justice system had been infiltrated by rogue elements and was now on the verge of being run by criminal syndicates. In their concerted plan to ensure they continued with their criminal activities with impunity – and without any consequences – these syndicates have now targeted prosecutors especially those handling high-profile cases. Batohi voiced her concern about the number of prosecutors that had been murdered recently.
The victims included Elona Sambulula , who was shot dead near his home in the Eastern Cape on April 29 this year. He was an Acting Regional Court prosecutor. Another was Tracy Brown who was shot and killed also outside her home and in front of her family in July. A suspect has since been arrested in connection with this case.
Besides having been infiltrated by corrupt officers from the police and within their own department, the NPA had been struggling to swiftly prosecute major cases that could reverse the trend of corruption in this country. Many of such cases included those that were recommended by the Zondo Commission and had still not been resolved.
Now that the NPA boss has conceded to having no trust in her own team which has been tasked with convicting and jailing criminals, Batohi is advised to seek help from the private sector to help them provide with legal and forensic assistance. The police department must also undergo a total overhaul following allegations that certain senior officers were colluding with criminal syndicates to commit serious crimes in South Africa. It would serve no purpose for those law abiding and committed police officers to investigate and arrest criminals who would later walk free because of corrupt judicial officials. South Africa is gradually sliding towards a lawless country unless the government takes a resolute stand to reverse the spread of corruption and restored order.
These concerns were further raised during the Madlanga Commission who recently heard chilling testimony of brutality allegedly perpetrated by certain Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officers who visited a suspect, robbed him of cash, tortured and murdered him. His body was then dumped at a dam nearby. What kind of police are these ?
The main duties of the police is to prevent, combat and investigate crime as well as maintain public order. It is not to arrest, judge and kill suspects.
