People of certain backgrounds are more likely to experience racism and there are particular locations where it's more likely to happen, a new report has found.
The Victoria University research has revealed racism is a widespread experience among Victoria's multicultural and multi-faith communities.
The report found 76.2 per cent of people (or someone in their care) had experienced racism in Australia.
Two-thirds of those who have experienced racism also faced at least one incident in the 12 months prior, and almost one quarter said it happened 'frequently' to them.
Only 12.8 per cent of those surveyed had never witnessed or experienced racism.
The views of 703 people were collected across 18 months, with just 15.5 per cent of those experiencing racism formally reporting this to an organisation or community group.
Lead researcher, racism expert Associate Professor Mario Peucker of Victoria University, said there was often a "culture of acceptance" in communities about racism.
"Some people don't want to be seen as victims of racism so they don't want to talk about it," he said. "Others are worried they might appear ungrateful."
Some people don't want to be seen as victims of racism so they don't want to talk about it. Others are worried they might appear ungrateful.Associate Professor Mario Peucker, Victoria University
People feel 'unwelcome, looked down upon or excluded'
The most common form of racism fell under what has been described as casual racism, "everyday racism" or microaggressions.
Among those who had experienced racism in the previous year, 72.5 per cent described their experience as 'feeling unwelcome, looked down upon or excluded'.
Around 57.3 per cent experienced 'biased and/or prejudiced comments and actions' directed at them.
More than half also experienced discrimination — disadvantaged or unfair treatment — and racist verbal abuse or insults.
Places where people are most likely to experience racism
Around 56.5 per cent of those who experienced racism in the previous 12 months said it happened in the workplace or while they were looking for a job.
This was followed by shopping centres or shops (49.5 per cent) and public transport (37.8 per cent).
The top area where people experienced racism was in the workplace or while trying to find work. Source: SBS News
Schools were also a location where people say they experienced racism. Source: SBS News
"If you don't get a job, or you work well below your qualification, there are tangible effects on your income, but also on your sense of recognition and belonging."
He said people's working conditions could affect their housing, health and family life.
"It's a very influential area where racism keeps happening."
The report also noted almost 22 per cent of racism happened in schools, and this included discrimination and racist treatment from staff.
One Muslim man of Sudanese background said he had got into a physical fight with other kids after being called the "n-word".
"Four against one, in front of the supervisor's office, punched in the face," he said. "I reported it but nothing happened. Actually, I got in trouble because I tried to fight back."
I reported it but nothing happened. Actually, I got in trouble because I tried to fight back.Anonymous respondent, Victoria University study
One man said most kids from an African background had felt discriminated against at school.
"The school applies different rules. For example, I got detention for being late, the other kids get a warning."
Another woman said teachers steer Black students into taking certain subjects.
"They don’t let them take the subject they want to do, like biology, because they say that’s too hard for them," she said. "In some schools, they ask them to not sit the (Year 12) exams. And this is happening until today."
People of certain backgrounds more likely to experience racism
More than 90 per cent of those who identified as being of African background said they had experienced racism — the highest proportion of those surveyed.
Those of South Asian background were the next most impacted, including 81.2 per cent of those of Indian or Sri Lankan background.
People of African background were most likely to have experienced racism in Australia. Source: SBS News
As part of the study, participants were told that racism could mean different things, and it included religious prejudice.
Those from Muslim and Jewish backgrounds were particularly impacted, with 88.1 per cent of Muslim participants experiencing racism/Islamophobia and 84.1 per cent of Jewish respondents having experienced antisemitism.
Those of Muslim and Jewish faiths were most likely to report experiencing racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. Source: SBS News
The silencing effect of racism
Peucker said the report — Understanding Reporting Barriers and Support Needs for those Experiencing Racism in Victoria — included the largest survey in Australia asking people if they had reported racism and if they had, what they thought of the experience.
It found people didn't report racism for many reasons.
Responses from online surveys and focus groups found some believed in the idea of meritocracy and that, if you work hard, you will be rewarded for that, so "don't rock the boat, don't cause trouble", Peucker added.
"Others are worried that, if they talk out, that they would face negative consequences."
While 63.4 per cent of study respondents told their family, friends or a colleague about an incident of racism, around 21.1 per cent never told anyone.
"The silencing effect has been really problematic for them personally because it builds up, it accumulates, it really creates a sort of trauma for some of them," Peucker said.
"It's also bad for the wider society because we don't know what's happening.
"We don't know how it looks, how it feels, we don't know what we can do about it — that's the insidious problem of the silencing effect of racism."
The research targeted people of specific multicultural backgrounds, so researchers say the data may not be statistically representative of the whole population but "robust" quantitative insights can still be gleaned from the large number of responses.
'We don't want them to hate us'
As well as an online survey, the research also collected stories from people in 27 focus groups.
Researchers found many were concerned about the potential negative effects of reporting racism on their employment, their residence status, or even their acceptance in society.
Some were also concerned about the possible consequences for the perpetrator and that they could lose their job.
One person in a Chinese focus group said they had come to accept a "little bit of tough treatment".
"It's part of a learning curve and we also don't know our rights."
Another Somali-born woman said: "Don't talk bad, don't talk about racism in this country. They might hate you. It's not my country."
Don't talk bad, don't talk about racism in this country. They might hate you, it's not my country.Anonymous respondent, Victoria University study
This was echoed by a woman in a Muslim focus group who said not rocking the boat was a sentiment that had been embedded in her growing up in Australia: "We don't want them to hate us".
But she said this was now changing, especially in the younger generation.
"When my mum says 'don't make a big deal', I say, 'no, I will make a big deal, I know my rights.'"
The reasons why people don't report racism
Almost everyone surveyed (90.6 per cent) was deterred from reporting racism by a sense of resignation, and felt like nothing would change if they reported.
More than eight in 10 also felt discouraged by what they saw as a "too difficult" reporting process that "takes too much effort", and by concerns they wouldn't be taken seriously.
The fourth most common reason for not reporting was concern about "possible negative consequences".
"People don't report because the costs of reporting are too high, and the outcomes are too low," Peucker said.
People don't report because the costs of reporting are too high, and the outcomes are too low.Associate Professor Mario Peucker, Victoria University
Of those who reported racism in Victoria in the past, 77.5 per cent were disappointed in the outcome.
Around 70 per cent said they felt distressed during the process.
Peucker believes the way racism is reported should change, and more support should be provided, to tailor it to the needs of those impacted.
The survey found 60.7 per cent of respondents would prefer to report racism by speaking to someone in person, while 56.3 per cent wanted to report it online.
Most people who reported racism did so through internal systems such as those at their workplaces or schools, or by complaining to police. Very few had heard of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), and only 19.3 per cent had reported racism to this organisation.
Reporting can have a positive impact on the person
Despite the overall negative reporting experiences, the report found making a complaint could still have a positive impact on the person, with 64.2 per cent stating they felt better afterwards.
The report suggested a partial explanation for this may be an individual's sense of pride in breaking the silencing effect of racism.
It found the biggest reason people are driven to report is to make sure the incident is recorded (71.6 per cent) and because "if nobody reports, nothing will ever change" (70.4 per cent).
Around 65 per cent of people wanted the person responsible to be held to account, while 42 per cent said they wanted to make an official complaint.
Others were seeking support, more than 27 per cent wanted to talk to someone about it, and another 24.7 per cent were trying to get emotional support.
Better 'racial literacy' needed
The report highlighted the need for regular training and workshops on racism in schools, workplaces and other spaces to strengthen racial literacy.
It also found there needed to be better awareness of anti-racism rights and existing support services in Victoria.
There should also be stronger legal protection to increase accountability for racist behaviour, and the better enforcement of existing laws.
"Many people don't want to go through this (making a complaint) because they might get an apology ... the employer has to do training ... but it's not what most people want as an outcome," Peucker said.
