Talking about racism in National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week is a good time to reflect on what’s holding us back in closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

One of those things that we need to talk about, is racism. When we talk about racism, it invariably gets a strong reaction, and particularly for people who’ve been subjected to it.

Research shows that racism can be overt or subtle, and that it is embedded in our individual biases and systems. Research also reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including children, say they experience racism in communities across our country.

The Reconciliation Barometer found 52 percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had experienced at least one form of racial prejudice in the past six months. This led me to think about the impact of racism and discrimination on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the effects these have on their education.

Any of us who’ve experienced some form of discrimination or know someone who has, recognise it can hurt and potentially negatively influence what we do and achieve. 

Australia’s Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC) helps us understand that impact. It shows the potential effect on an Indigenous child when they, or their family, experience racism or discrimination. Almost half of the carers in the LSIC with children aged 5 to 9, reported at least one experience of discrimination or bullying due to their Indigeneity.

By age 10, children who had such an experience had substantially worse maths scores and perceptions of their own academic ability, than children who didn’t have that experience. The differences were quite large and held, even after adjusting for gender, age, remoteness, carer education and household finances. As Professor Nick Biddle from the ANU who led this analysis concluded, ‘racism has a direct, negative impact on a range of education outcomes for Indigenous children’.

Somewhere along the line our shared aspirations of trusting and respectful relationships aren’t being realised as most of us would like or expect. And the consequences are increasingly evident – including on children’s educational outcomes. 

The Smith Family’s vision for reconciliation is a nation where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children fully benefit from the education and learning opportunities this nation has to offer, and the broader Australian community truly values and shows deep respect for, and understanding of, the First Peoples of Australia. We have done some work towards supporting reconciliation, but we have much more to do. We need to be constantly vigilant and actively seek input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their experiences.

Organisations and institutions who have a mission to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including The Smith Family, must lean into building cultural competence and providing culturally safe spaces, if we truly are to Be Brave and Make Change.