Tangible action from employers, rather than symbolism, is needed to tackle racism in Australian workplaces.
As National Reconciliation Week comes to a close, the University of Technology Sydney's Centre for Indigenous People and Work (CIPW) says racism is significantly reduced when organisations introduce anti-racism training and formal complaint procedures.
According to Gari Yala 2, a research study conducted by CIPW, workplaces which introduced a racism complaint procedure saw reported racism fall by more than 20 per cent, from 64.3 per cent to 43.6 per cent.
Similarly, where anti-racism training was introduced, racism levels declined from 63.8 per cent to 47.5 per cent.
More than half of Indigenous workers continue to experience racism at work, despite initiatives such as celebrating significant First Nations dates remaining the most common workplace response. CIPW says these measures are "less strongly associated with reducing racism than initiatives that shape day-to-day experiences".
CIPW Director Professor Nareen Young said reconciliation requires year-round action, with evidence showing structural changes — rather than one-off events — are more effective in improving outcomes for Indigenous workers.
"Showing up for National Reconciliation Week is important, but putting on a breakfast or hosting a panel discussion once a year does little to improve outcomes for Indigenous workers," she said.
"The real test is what happens during the other 51 weeks of the year. Employers need to go beyond symbolic gestures to build systems that improve outcomes for Indigenous workers."
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The current Senate inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at First Nations people has been urged to examine racism in the workplace.
Previous CIPW research suggested that without legislative and policy changes, it could take up to 118 years before Indigenous workers "never hear racial slurs and jokes at work".
The recently released Call It Out Annual Report — a collaboration between the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research and the National Justice Project — found workplaces are the second most common setting where racism occurs.
Reports of negative attitudes and stereotyping, bullying and intimidation, discriminatory laws, policies and practices, breaches of cultural rights, and shunning and exclusion were among the most common forms of racism experienced in workplaces.
Professor Young said National Reconciliation Week should be a turning point for employers, arguing the "evidence is clear about what works".
"The question is whether organisations are prepared to move beyond symbolism and commit to structural change," she said.
"Reconciliation is not what you say during one week, it is what you do every day. By all means have a morning tea, but use it as a launch pad to introduce practical changes that will make a real difference."
