Racism register wins federal government backing

The Call It Out register, led by UTS’s Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research in partnership with the National Justice Project is the only national, Indigenous-led collection of such data.

Announced by Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the funding will support the work of Call It Out including the establishment of an online data dashboard to inform anti-racism action. 

Established in 2022, Call It Out provides a culturally safe and trauma informed place for First Nations people and all Australians to report incidents of racism. 

The project has since delivered four annual reports that have provided the evidence to support strategies to address racism and discrimination.

Timely support for Call it Out

This funding comes at an important time, coinciding with the parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which received more than 700 submissions and held public hearings across the country. 

The inquiry has heard there are significant gaps in racism reporting and response mechanisms, and existing systems are fragmented, inconsistent, slow and often culturally unsafe.

The final report from the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs is expected in December.

“The parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at First Nations people has heard confronting stories about the hurt and harm experienced by too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Senator McCarthy said.

“While we await the committee’s final report, we are not waiting to act.

Strengthening efforts to collate rigorous data

“This investment will strengthen the important work of Call It Out and support efforts by the Jumbunna Institute and the National Justice Project to collate rigorous data.

“I encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to engage with Call It Out and report their experiences and call on all Australians to call out racism when they see it,” Senator McCarthy said.

Jumbunna Director Professor Lindon Coombes said Call it Out had continued to fulfil on the brief it had at its establishment.

“Our aim in creating Call It Out is to generate evidence to inform anti-racism action and policy development, to support the response of First Nations communities, organisations and leaders, and educate the wider community.”