Barriers to Reporting Racism

Experiences of racism

76% of survey respondents have experienced racism in Australia (or someone in their care); two-thirds of them have experienced racism also in the past 12 months, most commonly in employment (57%), shopping centres/shops (50%), on public transport (38%) and other public places (37%) or online (35%). The focus groups also highlighted significant problems of racism in schools.

Many experiences of racism can be described as casual or everyday racism, where legal protection mechanisms usually fall short, but racial and religious discrimination, which can be unlawful under Victoria’s anti-racism legislation, has also been experienced by a large proportion of respondents (57% of those who have faced racism in past 12 months). Moreover, 55% faced racist verbal abuse and insults, and one in ten even stated they had been subjected to physical threats.

(Non-)reporting racism

Fewer than 16% have every reported an incident of racism to an organisation or community group. Those who have done so, reported predominantly within the organisation where the incident occurred (e.g. at work or at school) or to Victoria Police and, less often, to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC).

Reporting racism is commonly regarded as a high-cost but low-outcome process: Over 85% stated it required a lot of time and energy and almost 78% felt distressed during the process, but fewer than three in ten received the support they were hoping for and 78% were disappointed with the outcome.

The main reasons for reporting revolved around, first and foremost, raising awareness about racism, and holding the perpetrator to account. Seeking emotional support was also highlighted by many.

The reasons for not reporting are often interconnected and mutually reinforcing. They include, among others, a sense of hopelessness (nothing would change; 91%), the view that reporting is too difficult (83%), concerns about not being taken seriously (83%), worries about negative consequences (76%) or not knowing where to report (75%). Negative reporting experiences in the past also discourage from reporting in the future.

Fewer than 30% thought there were enough adequate reporting options in Victoria. While a majority knew how to generally report to Victoria Police, only few people knew how to access other reporting options and support services such as the VEOHRC.

Two quite different modes of reporting racism were favoured: 61% would prefer to speak to someone in person, while 56% would like to report online through a reporting platform. Reporting via an app, phone or email were seen as viable (additional) options by some participants (between 37 and 40%).

Anti-racism support

Participants expressed a strong need for empathic and emotional support (82%) and psychological/mental health support (70%) after having experienced racism. Legal support or the desire to resolve the conflict through mediation were mentioned by fewer than half of the respondents. Many focus group participants also called for community-based and advocacy-focused support that ‘has their back’ and can assist in navigating the current reporting and support landscape.

Key features of improved anti-racism support services that would make it more likely for communities to report include transparent processes that keep the person informed about their case, greater cultural sensitivity in the provision of support and more promotion of existing services. Services should be delivered by trusted organisations and qualified staff, ideally with lived experiences themselves, and in different community languages. These perspectives were strongly echoed across the focus group discussions where participants particularly emphasised the need for community-led support by people with lived experience and greater accountability for the perpetrators of racism.

Steps to Dealing with Racism:

1. Awareness raising: racism, legal protections and support services

2. Improving existing reporting pathways and support services

3. Establishing alternative community-led anti-racism services

4. Building broad organisational capacity to provide basic guidance on anti-racism support

5. Improving anti-racism support in places racism happens: schools, workplaces, shopping centres and public transport

Download Understanding reporting barriers and support needs for those experiencing racism in Victoria (PDF, 1.83 MB)

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