Australian Human Rights Commission supports employers to address racism in workplaces with new national campaign

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a new national anti-racism campaign calling on employers to take more responsibility for addressing racism in their workplaces.

The campaign, Change the system. Change the story, asks leaders and managers to broaden their awareness and understanding of racism and use their influence to change workplace rules and culture.

This campaign is informed by impacted communities’ experiences captured in the Commission’s Seen & Heard project, Racism@Uni study and National Anti-Racism Framework. The campaign is supported by community groups most affected by racism alongside major union, employer and civil society peak bodies.

At the heart of the campaign is a simple message: feeling safe, respected and included at work is the right of every person, no matter their race, religion or cultural background. It calls on leaders to:

• LISTEN: Create safe, trusted ways for people who experience racism to speak about what is happening at work and what needs to change.
• LEARN: Build understanding of what workplace racism looks like and how everyday rules, policies and decisions can create unequal outcomes.
• LEAD: Act when racism occurs, change workplace rules and decisions, and support pathways into leadership for people with lived experience of racism.

The campaign includes a range of practical resources, guides and tools available on the Commission's website to help employers improve their workplace policies and practice. Campaign assets including videos, social media content, posters and infographics are also available to help organisations promote the campaign through their networks.

The campaign’s creative concept of facial fragmentation reflects how the experience of racism can diminish a person’s sense of self and strip them of their dignity. This has been a common theme throughout the Commission's consultations with communities affected by racism. The other common theme was that workplaces are a key setting where people experienced issues such as: being excluded, harassed and vilified; a lack of safety when expressing identity, grief or solidarity with their community; or being penalised or sacked for speaking up about racism.

The Seen & Heard project was established with funding from the Department of Home Affairs after a sharp rise in racism following the events of 7 October 2023. The project’s recently released report, The struggle to be seen, the power in being heard, gave voice to the experiences of Australia's Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and Israeli communities.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman: ‘Every person in Australia has the right to feel safe and respected at work, whatever their race, religion or identity. People told us again and again that racism at work is systemic. It lives in the rules, the systems and the inaction of those with the power to change them. This campaign urges leaders to change their systems and, consequently, change the story of how people at work experience respect, dignity and belonging.

People told us again and again that racism at work is systemic. 

This campaign urges leaders to change their systems and, consequently, change the story of how people at work experience respect, dignity and belonging.

‘The Commission acknowledges and condemns the increased racism and discrimination that Australia’s Jewish, Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and Israeli communities have experienced over the last 3 years. This campaign has a particular focus on reflecting their experiences and we thank all the people and organisations who participated in our Seen & Heard project for helping us shape this campaign.

‘Their experiences reflect a key aspect of how racism manifests in workplaces. Events and circumstances here in Australia and around the world can change who the target of racism is, but the inherent and underlying systemic issues which let racism fester in workplaces continue to remain in place. That’s why we need to change the system and make our workplaces safe places where everyone feels welcome and has opportunities to thrive.’

Go to the Change the system. Change the story. campaign webpage.

Relevant data about racism in workplaces includes:

• Two-thirds of workers have experienced or witnessed racism at work, yet nearly half say it is rarely treated as a workplace safety issue (Australian Institute of Health and Safety, 2026).
• Around 90% Australian workers identify racism as a workplace problem and believe companies must take active measures to address it but only 27% believe their organisations are proactive in preventing it. (Diversity Council of Australia, 2022)
• 1 in 4 academic and professional staff at Australia’s universities have experienced racism aimed at them personally while 2 in 3 have experienced racism directed at someone from their ethno-religious group. (Respect@Uni, 2026).
• Around 60% of First Peoples employees experience racism at work. But where a workplace has both anti-racism training and a complaints process, that figure falls to 40%, compared with 66% where neither exists (Gari Yala 2, 2026).

Community supporter quotes

Quotes from a range of relevant community organisations about addressing racism in workplaces are also available. Details can be provided on request.

About the Australian Human Rights Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission is Australia's national human rights institution, established in 1986. It operates independently to protect and promote human rights, including under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

Media contact

Email: media@humanrights.gov.au or phone: 0457 281 897