A new report has revealed the impact of racism on Indigenous peoples' health outcomes and other communities impacted by racism in Australia.
Released by the Australian Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, the report, Health inequities in Australia: A scoping review on the impact of racism on health outcomes and healthcare access, has found both systematic and interpersonal racism are critical drivers of poor health, chronic illness, and premature death.
Race Discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said the report's findings are a wake-up call for the nation.
"This report confirms what communities have been saying for decades: racism in the health system is not just unfair—it can kill," Commissioner Sivaraman said.
"When people are denied care, misdiagnosed or treated with suspicion because of their race, the consequences are not theoretical. They can be fatal."
Conducted by researchers, including First Nations researchers in the School of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney, the scoping review synthesised evidence from 100 studies to highlight how racism contributes to mental illness, chronic disease and reduced life expectancy.
The report also documents widespread mistrust of healthcare systems due to repeated experiences of discrimination, neglect and stereotyping.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said the way Indigenous peoples are treated in the healthcare system "needs to urgently change".
"Racism makes First People's unwell, and racism is stopping first people from getting better," Ms Kiss said.
"It's unacceptable that First peoples are dying from diseases that have been eradicated in the rest of population decades ago."
The report calls for a range of urgent reforms, including; embedding cultural safety standards in healthcare, supporting Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse-led health initiatives through community-led programs and providing accessible anti-racism training for health professionals.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president, Dr Michael Wright, said the report highlights the prevalence of structural racism and the impacts of racism on health in Australia.
"Racism harms social and emotional wellbeing and increases the risk of chronic disease for those who experience it," Dr Wright said.
"The RACGP has a zero tolerance approach to racism and we call for implementation of the AHRC National Anti-Racism Framework and for cultural safety to be embedded across general practice and the broader health system."
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association general secretary, Shaye Candish, said NSWNMA is committed to working with governments, employers and agencies to stamp out racism in the health and aged care systems.
"We endeavour to bring about meaningful change for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and those from other racially marginalised communities by finding permanent and scalable solutions to mitigate racism in health and aged care workplaces," Ms Candish said.
The report supports the goals of the National Anti-Racism Framework and provides a roadmap for governments, health institutions, and communities to dismantle discriminatory structures and build a health system that is safe, inclusive and equitable for all.
Commissioner Sivaraman called for federal and state governments to commit to the health-based recommendations in the National Anti-Racism Framework.
"Racism is a public health emergency," Mr Sivaraman said.
"We need to treat it with the same urgency and seriousness as any other threat to life."
