Core to our vision of being a leading public university is our commitment to being a place that reflects and values the rich diversity of society.
Australia’s modern history is one of colonisation and migration, with universities founded within this context.
The Subtitle aims to guide UTS’s work in cultural diversity and anti-racism, with a focus on both the experiences of Indigenous and culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) students and staff.
We are proud that UTS is a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith community and we are determined that our university be a place where all students, staff and visitors feel welcome, safe and that they belong.
Racism in Australia is pervasive and causes real harm to people every day. It has been entrenched in our systems, structures, and institutions since colonisation, and manifests and is experienced in different ways by different people.
The Australian National Anti-Racism Framework explains that anti-racism is about more than being ‘not racist’. Anti-racism involves active decisions that seek to combat injustice and promote racial equity. Being anti-racist involves actively attempting to combat racist policies, practices, cultures, and ideas. It can be helpful to think of anti-racism as a skill set that we can all develop and use to promote a better, more equitable society.
This plan sets out ways in which our UTS community can work together to collectively develop these skills, prevent and respond to racism in all its forms, and foster a sense of belonging for everyone at our university.
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“Saying the words 'anti-racism' is a big deal in this country because I don't think this country wants to believe it's racist, but as someone, well, as a lot of people who have suffered racism in this country, it is a big deal. It damages your soul. It dents your identity and it makes you feel unworthy. We are all worthy.” |
| — Aunty Glendra Stubbs OAM, Elder-in-Residence (‘Cultivating an anti-racist campus culture’, public talk, 2024) | |
Key themes
- Recognising and understanding racism
- Listening to students and staff about their experiences of racism and cultural diversity
- Amplifying First Nations-led research and anti-racism research
- Visibly calling out racism and promoting anti-racism
- Delivering anti-racist education
- Embedding the Indigenous Graduate Attribute (IGA) across all onshore courses at UTS
- Driving inclusive pedagogy, curriculum and training to increase staff and students’ race literacy and understanding of cultural diversity
- Responding to racism
- Ensuring UTS disclosure and complaints processes are accessible, fair, culturally responsive, and trauma informed including by specifically addressing the cultural safety needs of First Nations staff and students
- Collecting data and reporting on experiences of racism with an intersectional lens to inform systemic change and target initiatives
- Supporting cultural safety and racial dignity
- Upholding racial dignity
- Maintaining our commitment to First Nations self-determination
- Supporting the cultural and faith diversity of staff and students, and other aspects of identity that intersect with race
- Promoting culturally safe work, research and learning environments including physical and online classrooms, and culturally safe work, research and teaching and learning practices.
- Working to ensure that UTS leadership is representative of, and/or advocates for, our culturally diverse community
- Celebrating cultural diversity and building social cohesion
- Recognising and valuing the creativity, knowledge and expertise of our diverse staff and students
- Celebrating and acknowledging the cultural days of significance of First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) staff and students
- Providing and promoting opportunities for international students and staff to be immersed in campus life
- Supporting opportunities for the UTS community to build connections, respectfully debate issues, and learn about different perspectives
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“This Cultural Diversity and Anti-Racism Action Plan is a call to action. As a university, we have a responsibility to lead change – through our research, teaching, policies, and everyday practices.This plan is shaped by the voices of our staff and students who have generously shared their experiences, good and bad. It is also built on the expertise of academics and practitioners committed to dismantling systemic racism both on campus and in our wider society.” |
| — Professor Andrew Parfitt, Vice-Chancellor and President | |