Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools

Responding to and reporting racism

Encourage students, families and carers to report racism

To enhance a safe, inclusive and welcoming school environment, it is essential to promote clear and supportive processes for responding to, and reporting incidents of racism and religious intolerance:

• Encourage staff, students, families, carers and communities to report incidents of racism or religious intolerance, and regularly promote reporting pathways (Refer to Report racism or religious discrimination in schools for more information).
• Clearly communicate the responding and reporting process to students, families, carers and communities, for example, using the School website content – template (DOCX) and School newsletter content – template (DOCX).
• Assure staff, students, families, carers and communities of the school’s support, that reports will be taken seriously, and updates on the school’s response will be provided.
• Communicate to staff, students and families and carers that if they are uncomfortable reporting incidents of racism or religious intolerance to the school, or are dissatisfied with the school’s response, they can report the incident through the Report Racism hotline:
  • staff, students, families and carers can report their own experience
  • families and carers can report on behalf of the student.
• Staff, students, families and carers can also make a complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) or Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV).

Safely and inclusively respond to and report incidents of racism

The department’s Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies) policy requires schools to manage and respond to all reported incidents of racism that occur in school. Schools may be required to offer support and implement safety measures for students affected by racism incidents occurring outside of school, if those incidents are impacting students at school.

In alignment with these policies in responding to incidents of racism, schools should do the following.

1. Identify the incident and immediate response

Assess and ensure safety

• Be student focused. Reassure the student (or parent/carer) that the school believes their report and that it will be taken seriously. Focus on the impact on the student, which may be different than the intent of the person who displayed the racism.
• Respond promptly. Remove the student from immediate risk or harm, such as separating them from the person who displayed the racism, or removing any offensive images or messages (take a photo for records before removing).
• Be mindful that incidents of racism can also be traumatic for witnesses and those who are listening and who have lived experience of racism.
• Ensure any questions or conversations have a calm and supportive tone to minimise students feeling interrogated.
• Engage wellbeing support if required.

Engage trusted parties and safely record evidence

• Involve people trusted by the student to foster safety and promote culturally appropriate responses. This might include a trusted staff member, family and/or community member.
• Offer interpreting services if required for communication.
• Keep a safe and accurate record of the incident and responses, ensuring privacy is maintained.

2. Report the incident

• Schools must report incidents of racism in either eduSafe Plus or by calling the Incident Support and Operations Centre (ISOC – 1800 126 126).
• Use the Managing Incidents in My School guide (staff login required) to determine the severity of the incident.

3. Ongoing support and recovery

• Work with the wellbeing and year level coordinators, teachers and relevant staff (such as Multicultural Education Aides and Koorie Engagement Support Officers) to monitor short to long term mental health needs of all involved, including victims, witnesses and those who displayed the racism.
• Engage regional or external support services if required. For example, Koorie Engagement Support Officer, Health, Wellbeing Key Contact or Student Support Services Key Contact.
• Use educative approaches to help all involved understand the impact of their actions.
• Use Trauma-informed approaches and/or Restorative practice to work towards repairing relationships, support de-escalation, and promote trust.
• If appropriate, consider disciplinary action for the person who displayed the racism, such as detention, withdrawal of privileges or other measures consistent with the department’s Behaviour – Students policy and your own local school policy on Student Wellbeing and Engagement. Suspension must only be considered when it is consistent with the department’s Suspensions policy.
• If the incident occurs in the classroom, address the issue with the classroom group. Reinforce expectations of mutual respect and explain why certain behaviours are racist. Refer to Key terminology and examples of forms of racism to support identifying, preventing and addressing racism.
• Meet with students, families and carers to set clear expectations for future interactions.
• Update staff on the incident and actions to be taken and set out expectations for the management of any future incidents.
• In cases where racism affects the broader school community, which may be related to tensions between cultural groups, remind families, carers and communities of the school’s values of cultural inclusion and anti-racism. Encourage families, carers and communities to reinforce the school’s values at home, reinforce reporting processes (for example, promote the availability of the Report Racism hotline) and highlight any relevant available support services.
• Use the School newsletter content – template (DOCX) to communicate with families and carers about this policy, and promote any actions your school is taking to address racism and/or be culturally safe and inclusive. For example, consider providing a list of school-based roles and responsibilities that promote upstander behaviour.
• If the incident occurs online, refer to Advice sheets for school staff and families regarding cybersafety and cyberbullying.

4. Inform affected parties of the response and outcome

• Keep affected parties informed throughout the response and reporting process, while recognising that some information will need to be kept confidential in alignment with the Privacy and Information Sharing policy.
• Communicating with affected parties will reassure them that the school responded and will give confidence in the importance of reporting racism.

5. Incident review and closure

• Take time after an incident response to debrief and reflect on it in leadership or staff meetings, identify learnings, and discuss improvements that should be made to school policies, processes and practices to prevent similar incidents.
• Use de-identified incidents as case studies to build staff capabilities and enhance responses to racism.
• Ask: Does school data and the incident highlight bigger systemic issues that require further intervention beyond addressing the specific incident? For example, inclusive communication, discriminatory practices and opportunities to build staff skills and capabilities.

6. Analyse and learn

• Regularly review racism incident reports to identify learnings and help monitor:
  • number and type of racism incidents
  • cohorts impacted
  • trends and challenges to inform system-level preventative measures and supports
  • impact and effectiveness of existing anti-racism efforts
  • school needs to access regional assistance and external supports.
• Identify relevant professional learning for staff or education programs for students to prevent racism. Refer to the Resources tab – Preventing racism and Responding to and reporting racism
• If data indicates a systemic issue, review relevant local school policies, such as Child Safety and Wellbeing, Complaints, Statement of Values and School Philosophy, Bullying Prevention, Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations, Student Wellbeing and Engagement.
• Consider how anti-racism could be embedded in the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan.