The struggle to be seen, the power in being heard
Discover personal stories and community voices on experiences of racism in Australia from the Seen and Heard project, amplifying lived perspectives.
Summary
This report details the devastating impact of events related to the war in Gaza on Australia’s Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and Israeli communities. It is the most comprehensive report of its kind since the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by Israel.
Download the report
Overview
The report is part of the Seen & Heard project was commissioned to better understand the effect of the Middle Eastern hostilities on local communities of the war in Gaza, the associated humanitarian crisis and widening regional hostilities.
Based on extensive community consultations undertaken by the Commission between February and August 2025, the insights shared by project participants reveal the profound pain and distress caused by increased racism targeting the affected communities. The report also reveals how racism has escalated in these communities.
The Commission is extremely grateful to all project participants for entrusting us with their stories and insights, and we acknowledge their courage and resilience in the face of the personal and collective trauma they’ve endured.
Executive summary
The insights shared throughout the Seen & Heard project reveal the profound pain and distress caused by increased racism toward Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities in Australia since 7 October 2023. They also reveal how racism has escalated in these communities.
But I think what’s scarier is that discrimination is kind of being legitimised. And I think that’s the shift that I’ve noticed…you know, pre-7 October and post-7 October. Back then it was racism, and it was called that: racism. But after the attacks, it was OK (to be racist) and people can sympathise with it and get behind it and support it, which is a little bit of an ugly beast that’s growing.
I think what was different prior to October 7th versus post-October 7th is that, prior to October 7th…it wasn’t OK to be openly racist.
Participants from all communities described the enormous impact this has had on their wellbeing, personal and professional relationships, and sense of safety and belonging.
I think everyone – and I’m sure this extends to the Arab, Muslim, Palestinian communities in Australia – everyone feels on edge about talking about where they come from, talking about or being open about where they come from. I certainly know for myself, I’m very selective about who I speak to about not only my work, but my background.
The question then becomes: is Australia home still for us, right? Is it home for our children or our grandchildren?
The stories told by community members reveal diverse perspectives and lived experiences. Community members who spoke to the Commission were at pains to reinforce this. They also told us how vital it is to understand that the experiences of affected communities are not the same. The harms of racism documented in this report vary across people and groups. Across and within communities, this harm has unique features that demand customised solutions. While each person’s and each community’s experience is unique, common themes emerged in relation to how racism operates and the impact it has on lives. It operates by homogenising and diminishing communities, by silencing them and their members and by dismissing and denying peoples’ experiences. Racism dehumanises, it is isolating, it has profound impacts on physical and mental wellbeing, it makes people feel unsafe, it destroys trust and it damages feelings of belonging.
We kind of constantly have to justify – not only justify, but we have to keep making the case for our humanity. Nobody should have to do that. We are human, and we shouldn’t have to keep reinforcing the fact that Muslims should be considered humans and looked at equally, or Palestinians or Arab or anyone – anyone.
This massive dehumanisation… anecdotally and in stories, you see the dehumanisation of Jews in history, now we see a lot of dehumanisations and demonising … a lot of black and white perspectives, a lot of simplification, et cetera. I haven’t experienced it before. I see it in really common places now amongst my friends and extended network.
Although we heard about instances of interpersonal discrimination and harms, many of the stories shared with us highlighted the ways racism is embedded in social norms, institutional policies and practices, and broader systems.
But I also want to say that it’s important we talk about the structures because already we see institutions who are more afraid of a complaint coming through and will silence someone… you see people’s reputation destroyed on false allegations and then people lose work or lose grants because of a fake allegation.
To be honest… I wouldn’t go to the higher-ups anymore. I’ve tried to deal with them; they were useless. They don’t really care ... So, I just deal with it myself. That’s what it’s got to. I just have to deal with it myself with my friends, with the people around me, my family.
The findings in this report are specific to this moment, but they sit within the history of racial injustice in Australia, one that First People have long named and challenged. Many who spoke to us, across all communities, recognised the systemic nature of racism and its long history here.
We also heard that the systems that are supposed to protect people often fail, and at times cause and compound harm. Across communities, the education system and workplaces were consistently identified as places where people experience the harm of racism.
In workplaces, people experienced discrimination in recruitment, retaliation for speaking out about racism and loss of jobs or professional opportunities because of their identity or perceived political views. In universities, students and staff faced harassment, exclusion and censorship. In both settings complaints processes were described as punitive and ineffective, and culturally safe supports were limited. Many described how the failure of leaders to meaningfully address racism and the inability or unwillingness to recognise and act against it, even when formal mechanisms existed, added to the pain and distress communities are experiencing.
The stories gathered by this project, reflect how current responses to racism remain largely reactive. While reactive interventions are sometimes necessary, they cannot address the root causes of racism nor protect communities from harm. Across communities, participants told us that in Australia we are poorly equipped at both a macro and a micro level to deal with racism.
We heard again of the need for coordinated action to address racism. This reinforces the findings and recommendations in the National Anti-Racism Framework, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to anti-racism; one that changes systems, shifts culture, and addresses structural inequalities. The Framework was released over a year ago. It sets out the steps for coordinated anti-racism efforts across governments, institutions and communities to address entrenched racism and prevent its further harm in Australia. Many of the Framework’s recommendations were again identified as solutions by communities affected by the rise in racism since 7 October 2023. The insights included in this report also echo many of the findings included in the Respect@Uni: Study into Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people (Racism@ Uni) report.
Implementing the Framework as the foundation of all anti-racism work in Australia is an approach supported by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia and the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in Australia. The Framework recommendations have the capacity to tailor solutions to suit the needs of affected communities including those experiencing antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and anti-Arab racism.
Throughout the Seen & Heard project, members of affected communities identified priorities for action that run parallel with the recommendations of the Framework. Some identified the implementation of the Framework as a first and important step to addressing the harm of racism in Australia.
Reforms in workplaces, education settings, the legal system, within police forces and across government to improve understanding of racism and build capacity to identify and effectively address it were consistently f lagged as urgent priorities. Addressing gaps in legal protections and enforcement including reform to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) was seen as crucial to the fuller protection of affected communities and religious minorities. Many told us of a lack of meaningful consequences for those who commit racist harm. The role of political leaders in shaping national discussions around race and racism was seen as central to change with communities calling for politicians to undertake anti-racism training. Improvement in the way media reports on communities with lived experience of racism was also seen as vital and communities consistently called for digital platforms to develop and implement clear and transparent processes for reporting, reviewing and removing racist content, including mis- and disinformation.
Across communities, participants identified a need for people to learn how to talk about the complex and difficult issues that surround race and racism in Australia. In almost every session, participants suggested that governments should resource community organisations in affected communities to develop and implement programs and workshops to help local communities safely navigate conversations about Israel and Gaza. The creation of evidence-based and trauma-informed training for workplaces and institutions to support safe and constructive engagement around these issues was also identified as a key solution that governments could fund and support.
This report bears witness to the stories we heard and ensures they are not lost or forgotten. It serves as a reminder of how current systems are failing people affected by racism and of the collective work that remains to address it in Australia. The Commission reiterates its call for the Australian Government to implement the National Anti-Racism Framework as a priority.
Support services
A number of formal support services are available if you have experienced racism.
