A leading Indigenous academic at the University of Melbourne has resigned after public complaints over institutional racism.

Dr Eddie Cubillo, a Larrakia, Wadjigan and Central Arrernte man, led Indigenous programs as an associate dean and senior fellow at the university's Melbourne Law School.

Dr Cubillo previously served as the Northern Territory's anti-discrimination commissioner and as executive officer of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service.

Guardian Australia reports that he tendered his resignation as dean last week. Dr Cubillo reportedly said he would continue to lead the university's Indigenous Law and Justice Hub.

In early August Dr Cubillo gave a lecture at the University of Sydney last month on his experiences with racism at law school.

A University of Sydney spokesperson told The Guardian the lecture "powerfully addressed … systemic discrimination and structural bias against First Nations peoples", but a recording of the speech had not been published online, as is the norm, because of concerns surrounding ongoing legal issues.

Dr Cubillo told The Guardian he had endeavoured to bring about positive change at Melbourne Law School but it remained "most culturally unsafe place" at which he had worked.

"They're not listening and not taking action … there's an exodus of staff because of the cultural safety issue. I'm not alone," he said.

Guardian Australia noted that of 126 staff at the law faculty, Dr Cubillo is now the only Blak academic.

He said there was an urgent need for both the establishment of an anti-racism body and the introduction of an Indigenous legal subject as a mandatory part of the curriculum.

"I don't want to see my grandkids go through this bullshit," he said.

Anthropologist, geographer and justice advocate Professor Marcia Langton AO has held the Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne since 2000.