Findings from the Australian Human Rights Commission's landmark national Racism@Uni Study highlight that racism is "deeply embedded" across Australian universities and has profound impacts on students and staff.

More than 76,000 students and staff from 42 universities across the country participated in the Study. The Study findings reveal particularly high rates of racism are experienced by students and staff from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori, Pasifika, Palestinian, Jewish, African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Muslim backgrounds.

The findings also show high rates of racism experienced by international students.

Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said the findings of the Racism@Uni Study are deeply troubling and reveal that universities are falling short of their duty of care to provide safe, inclusive and respectful environments for students and staff.

"The insights and data from this Study highlight that racism at university is not confined to isolated incidents or individual behaviour - it is systemic," he said on Tuesday.

"Racism is pervasive across the sector, affecting many groups in serious ways. The Study confirms particularly high rates of racism are experienced by First Nations, Jewish and Palestinian students and staff at Australian universities.

"Racism harms people and communities. It damages people's identity and self-esteem, their sense of belonging, and their wellbeing and safety. Left unchecked, it leads to violence. The attack on Camp Sovereignty, the antisemitic terror attack in Bondi and the recent alleged attempted bombing targeting First Peoples on 26 January in Perth - these are the horrifying outcomes when racism in our society isn't addressed."

'Largest and most comprehensive examination of racism in Australian universities ever undertaken'

The Racism@Uni Study's report, titled Respect at Uni: Study into antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people, was commissioned in May 2024 by the federal government.

Key findings include:

- 70 per cent of survey respondents report experiencing indirect racism, including hearing or seeing racist behaviour directed at their community

- 15 per cent of respondents report experiencing direct interpersonal racism at university

- Jewish (religious) and Palestinian respondents report experiences of racism at rates over 90 per cent

- First Nations, Chinese, Jewish (secular), Middle Eastern and Northeast Asian respondents all report experiences of racism at rates over 80 per cent

- 19 per cent of respondents, who did not report experiencing direct or indirect racism at university, report witnessing racism

- Only six per cent of people who experience direct racism make a complaint to their university, with many citing fear of consequences

- trust in university complaints systems is extremely low, with the 60-80 per cent of staff and students who experience racism reporting dissatisfaction with the process

- racism occurs at similar rates at all Australian universities, confirming it is a systemic issue.

Call for national framework for anti‑racism in universities

The report makes 47 recommendations for government and universities, calling for a "coordinated, sector‑wide approach aligned with the Australian Human Rights Commission's National Anti‑Racism Framework".

The recommendations focus on five interconnected outcomes: A national framework for anti‑racism in universities; Inclusive and safe universities, free from racism; Accountable universities with trusted, accessible complaints systems; Inclusive curriculum and teaching; and diverse leadership and workforce.

While universities have made progress in some areas, the study's findings show anti‑racism policies remain "fragmented", understanding of racial and religious discrimination is low, and accountability mechanisms are largely ineffective. Only 11 universities were found to have advanced, standalone anti‑racism strategies.

The Racism@Uni Study comprised focus groups, a literature review, policy audit and a national online survey which gathered insights from staff and students with experience of racism. The survey generated 1.4 million words of free‑text survey responses. The Human Rights Commission said the survey was conducted using "a trauma‑informed and culturally safe approach".

Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said the report provides a "clear, evidence‑based path forward", with the voices and stories of staff and students who experience racism at its core.

"It is an opportunity for government and universities to honour those voices, dismantle racism and create institutions where safety, belonging and respect are lived every day," he said.

"The report shows the critical importance of the Australian government endorsing and funding key recommendations of the National Anti-Racism Framework, which the Commission delivered in November 2024. We cannot wait any longer as racism continues to impact the lives of many in visceral ways.

"We have an obligation to university staff and domestic and international students to ensure the promises we make about the benefits of university experiences are upheld. Those promises are shattered when they are targeted by racism," Commissioner Sivaraman said.

Racism against Indigenous students also prevalent in schools

The Racism@Uni Study findings follow a report released last year which found a sharp rise in racism experienced by Indigenous children and young people, prompting prompted renewed calls for schools and institutions to take active responsibility for addressing discrimination.

The Call It Out Annual Report found more than a quarter of reported incidents of racism targeting Indigenous Australians involved children and young people. Thirty per cent of incidents occurred in schools and other educational settings; more than double the 13 per cent recorded in 2023-24.

Jumbunna Research Fellow Rebecca Lewis said racism in schools is often minimised, despite its profound effects on children.

"When First Nations children experience racism at school, it cuts deeply. These are spaces where they should feel protected, yet many are subjected to public humiliation and trauma," she said.

"Too often this is dismissed as bullying. But racism is not bullying and treating it that way allows harm against First Nations children to be normalised and continue without accountability."

Universities Australia 'stands ready to work constructively' with the Commission

Higher education peak body Universities Australia said in a statement on Tuesday that the accounts shared by staff and students through the Racism@Uni Study were "deeply troubling".

"Behind each response is a person who did not feel safe or respected in a place where they should have. To everyone who shared their story, we acknowledge both what you experienced and the courage it takes to speak about it," UA said.

The organisation supported the report's calls for a national working group to develop a coordinated action plan for the sector, to "translate its findings into consistent standards, stronger accountability and measurable progress across all institutions".

"Universities Australia stands ready to work constructively with the AHRC and the government to ensure this work begins without delay and delivers meaningful, transparent change."

The full report Respect at Uni: Study into antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people is available online.