Preamble
The Australian Human Rights Commission's Respect at Uni: Study into antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people report was released on 17 February 2026. This report, alongside the work of the special envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia in Australia, highlights the need for Australia's universities to adopt a more systematic, transparent and accountable approach to preventing and responding to racism and hate in all its forms.
The Respect at Uni study drew on the experiences of more than 76,000 accounts from students and staff at Australia's universities. What they reported is confronting. They deserve better.
"Antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Middle Eastern racism have reached unprecedented levels in Australia in the last two years. Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim and Middle Eastern staff and students have endured significantly heightened hostility." - Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman
Ms Jillian Segal AO, the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia, noted a 316 per cent surge in antisemitic incidents in a single year and was clear about what is at stake for all of us.
"Antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews; it attacks the foundation of our nation; the fairness, equality and respect we have for one another." - Jillian Segal AO, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia
Aftab Malik, the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in Australia, found that more than one in three Australians now express negative attitudes towards Muslims and framed the challenge in terms that apply to every form of racism.
"Islamophobia is not a Muslim issue, but a social cohesion issue, and therefore a challenge for all Australians." - Aftab Malik, Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in Australia
These findings sit alongside the experiences of First Nations peoples, whose encounters with racism in our universities are longstanding, systemic and deeply felt.
"Over a century passed between the opening of Australia's first university and the first graduation of an Indigenous student. Today, First Peoples' systems of being, knowing and doing are still largely devalued and excluded from curricula, and discrimination is embedded in First Peoples' university experiences." - Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman
The work of addressing racism in universities is ongoing and it is the sector's responsibility. Australia's universities are committed to working with the AHRC and the special envoys to continue addressing racism on campus.
Our commitment and the steps we will take to build on the work we have already done is outlined in the following statement. We're taking further action because every member of a university community deserves the same standard of protection, dignity and inclusion. No form of racism is ever acceptable. We can and will do better for our students and staff.
UA response
Universities play a vital role in ensuring that all students and staff can participate fully, confidently, and safely in academic life. Racism is fundamentally incompatible with the purpose of a university, and inclusion, dignity, and mutual respect are basic values all universities uphold.
In the Australian context, universities recognise that racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is shaped by the long-lasting impacts of colonisation, dispossession and exclusion and must be understood in that context. Addressing racism in universities therefore requires not only a commitment to inclusion and safety for all, but also recognition of the unique and continuing harms of anti-Indigenous racism and the responsibilities universities hold to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Universities recognise that racism takes many forms, including anti-Indigenous racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; anti-Asian racism; antisemitism; Islamophobia; anti-African racism; as well as interpersonal, structural and systemic discrimination and online abuse, often shaped by global events. Universities must respond effectively to racism in ways that are proportionate, evidence-based and tailored to context.
A proactive and principled response to racism strengthens student wellbeing, supports academic success, enhances staff engagement, and reinforces public trust in higher education. By taking clear, timely and transparent action to prevent and respond to racism, universities not only protect and support their communities but also demonstrate the inclusive civic values that underpin a strong and cohesive society.
Australian universities commit to the following principles to prevent and respond to all forms of racism and hate, and to ensuring every campus is safe, inclusive, and respectful for all members of the community.
- Proactive prevention: Universities will embed racism prevention measures based on the best available evidence and practice.
- Effective action: Universities will act early and decisively to address racism and all forms of hate, embedding evidence-informed measures across governance, policy, education, and support.
- Clear commitment to respect and inclusion: Universities will actively foster cultures of respect and belonging.
- Sector leadership: The sector will work collectively to share best practice, and strengthen capability, while enabling institutions to respond to local contexts.
- Continuous improvement, transparency and accountability: Universities will monitor progress, review policies, and strengthen transparency and embed accountability through institutional governance, reporting and leadership oversight to drive ongoing improvement and build community confidence.
- Protection of academic freedom and expression: Efforts to eliminate racism and hate must uphold academic freedom and freedom of expression as core to the mission and integrity of universities and informed by the principles of Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom reflected in TEQSA's Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards). Protecting robust debate requires a culture of mutual respect and safety, however, these protections do not extend to harassment, vilification, intimidation or discrimination.
Through the following shared national action plan, universities commit to preventing and responding to racism and hate decisively, strengthening transparency and accountability, and ensuring campuses are safe, inclusive, and intellectually vibrant. Universities embed these commitments within institutional governance and assurance frameworks, including regular reporting to governing bodies, clear executive accountability, and public reflection on progress and continuous learning across the sector.
- Adopt a formal sector-wide commitment to action: Endorse a national statement that sets minimum standards for prevention and response, aligns institutional policies with an agreed framework, establishes measurable objectives and transparent reporting, and enables universities to implement campus-specific action plans tailored to their local contexts.
- Implement the Universities Australia Indigenous Charter: Adopt and operationalise the Charter, including its prioritised actions relating to racism, Indigenous racial safety, Indigenous leadership and accountability, as developed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellors Indigenous.
- Embed anti-racism and anti-hate as a standing national sector priority: Maintain racism and hate prevention as a standing priority at UA plenary meetings and major sector forums, including the UA Solutions Summit, with regular progress updates and agreed sector-wide priorities. This works should be informed by appropriate expert and representative leadership. Universities Australia will also call on the Australian Government to maintain this as a national priority.
- Establish structured mechanisms for sharing best practice: Create a national community of practice and a shared repository of resources to facilitate peer learning, reduce duplication, and support continuous improvement across institutions.
- Strengthen capability through partnerships with centres of excellence: Formalise engagement with recognised national experts to provide training, policy guidance, and advice on emerging issues, integrating this expertise into governance and institutional reform.
- Coordinate sustained engagement with government: Maintain structured dialogue with Commonwealth and state/territory governments to align sector initiatives with broader anti-racism strategies and advocate for supportive policy and funding settings.
Develop a nationally consistent data and monitoring framework: Agree on core indicators, establish a de-identified national dataset to track trends, and publish periodic reports to inform evidence-based policy refinement and continuous improvement. Our universities already maintain comprehensive policies, reporting mechanisms, and disciplinary frameworks. This initiative strengthens and aligns these existing efforts rather than replacing them. Through sustained leadership, shared accountability and national collaboration, the sector will continue to strengthen safe, inclusive, and respectful campus environments in which all members of the university community can thrive and contribute fully to Australia's social, cultural, and economic future.
