Nearly 79% of staff and students experience racism at Australian universities

Tuesday 17 February 2026 - 15:30

By: Sahili Aya

Nearly 79% of staff and students experience racism at Australian universities

A landmark study has revealed that nearly 79% of staff and students at Australian universities have experienced some form of indirect racism, with international students among the most affected. The research surveyed over 75,000 participants across 42 institutions and is the most comprehensive study of racial discrimination in Australian higher education to date.

The report, Respect at Uni: Study into Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Racism and the Experience of First Nations People, found that 14.9% of respondents faced direct interpersonal racism, while one in five academic staff reported being directly targeted. Students and staff from First Nations, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds reported particularly high rates of discrimination.

Incidents of racism spiked during periods of social tension, including the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Gaza. Some students described feeling compelled to hide their religion or cultural background due to fear of harassment.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the Australian Greens and anti-racism spokesperson, described the findings as evidence of a systemic problem, calling on the government to adopt sector-wide reforms and establish a national anti-racism framework.

The report makes 47 recommendations to address structural discrimination, including inclusive teaching practices, safer campus environments, more diverse leadership, and more effective complaint mechanisms. However, the study also highlighted low trust in current complaint processes, with only 6% of those experiencing direct racism filing formal complaints.