- Ten Western Australian public schools have been selected to take part in a six-month antisemitism pilot program
- Program part of a national effort to stamp out antisemitism through education
- Teachers and staff will undertake specialised training, and schools provided with practical resources to promote inclusive environments and enhance antisemitism education
- Cook Labor Government is committed to providing culturally safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students and staff
Ten Western Australian public schools are joining a national effort to stamp out the scourge of antisemitism by boosting awareness and understanding, through a six-month pilot program.
The program was launched today by Education Minister Sabine Winton, Australian Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal AO, and other education leaders at the Holocaust Institute.
Under the pilot program principals, teachers and staff will undertake specialised training toenhancetheir understanding of antisemitism and their ability to respond appropriately when any incidents occur.
Schools will also be provided with practical resources and expanded support to help promote inclusive environments and enhance antisemitism education in classrooms.
Over the past two years the WA Department of Education has undertaken significant work to strengthen public schools' responses to all forms of racism, discrimination and intolerance.
As part of this, Education Minister Sabine Winton and senior Department leaders met with representatives of the Jewish Community Council of Western Australia and the Holocaust Institute of Western Australia.
The pilot program forms part of a national approach to combat antisemitism and has been adapted to the WA context, following the pilot being rolled out in New South Wales and Victoria last year.
The ten WA public schools have been selected to takepart include:
- John Curtin College of the Arts;
- Wanneroo Secondary College;
- Mt Lawley Senior High School;
- Morley Senior High School;
- Armadale Senior High School;
- Balga Senior High School;
- Dianella Secondary College;
- Yokine Primary School;
- Wongan Hills District High School; and
- Hammond Park Secondary College.
The pilot program was developed in partnership between Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism (ASECA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Holocaust Institute of WA and the WA Department of Education.
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"Antisemitism undermines social cohesion, damages trust, and challenges the values of respect, dignity and inclusion that underpin our society.
"There is absolutely no place for antisemitism or any form of discrimination in our schools or our community.
"Students and their families deserve to feel safe in their school communities, and the Cook Labor Government is committed to providing culturally safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students and staff.
"The responsibility to confront antisemitism is a shared responsibility and education must play its partalongside government,communities andindividuals."
As stated by Department of Education WA Director General Jay Peckitt:
"Education is essential to combating all forms of discrimination.
"It is through education and the creation of inclusive school cultures that we can guide the next generation and arm them with the knowledge and skills needed to reject hatred and extremist views.
"The expertise of organisations including the Holocaust Institute of WA and the Jewish Community Council has been invaluable in helping to shape the Department's approach and ensuring that our response is informed, authentic and meaningful.
"Prejudice and discrimination have no place in our schools and through working with ASECA and UNESCO, we are further strengthening our collective capacity to tackle antisemitism."
