The Australian Human Rights Commission will next week launch what it says is the largest survey undertaken into the prevalence, nature and impact of racism at Australian universities, seeking to build an evidence base to improve safety on campus and online.
The national online survey is part of the Commission’s Racism@Uni study and will ask university students and staff across the country about experiences of racism. All current staff and students aged 18 and over at participating universities will receive an invitation via their university email. Participation is anonymous and encouraged regardless of whether respondents have experienced racism. The survey will be deployed in the week commencing 11 August, with participants able to enter a draw to win one of 50 gift vouchers.
Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said: ‘This is a historic and timely opportunity to take a deep look at how racism manifests in university spaces, and how it’s navigated by staff and students.
‘Every university student and staff member deserves to feel safe in their place of study or work, and this is a chance for them to be heard.
‘The findings of the survey will be instrumental in informing recommendations to the Australian Government and Australia’s universities to help them deliver safe and racism-free learning and working environments.’
The Commission has engaged The Centre for Social Policy Research (POLIS) at the Australian National University to conduct the survey, which will include questions on interpersonal and structural racism, as well as witnessing racism. Findings and recommendations are expected to be delivered to the Australian Government in December 2025.
Commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Education, the broader Racism@Uni study comprises four components: focus groups, a policy audit, a literature review and the national survey. An interim report delivered in 2024 found that both interpersonal and structural racism are pervasive and deeply entrenched in Australian universities.
More information about the Racism@Uni study is available at humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/projects/study-racism-australian-universities.
