The first national report on racism at universities in Australia has found it is a problem that is widespread and systemic. The report found 70 per cent of students and staff from 42 universities had witnessed racism.
It is the first national report to investigate prevalence and impact of racism at Australian universities. 76,000 students and staff across 42 Australian universities participated.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman says the accounts and findings are confronting.
Racism was experienced at higher levels by those from Indigenous, Chinese, African, Jewish and Middle Eastern backgrounds; with at least 80 per cent of survey respondents in these groups reporting impacts.
Only six per cent of those surveyed who experienced racism firsthand made a complaint.
That doesn't surprise Anenya Kale, who heads a student led group providing support for students called BIPOC, from culturally diverse backgrounds at the Australian National University.
