Understanding reporting barriers and support needs of people experiencing racism – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Victoria University is conducting an anti-racism project called Understanding reporting barriers and support needs of people experiencing racism, in collaboration with Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) and the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV). The project is funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth).

It is widely known that many people who experience racism (including religiously based prejudice and discrimination) often do not speak out and formally report it. This can have negative implications for the individual, the community and society at large. We acknowledge that there are many reasons why people do not report racism. For many the personal costs of reporting may seem too high and the prospect of meaningful outcomes too low.

Guided by the community inputs and expertise drawn from community forums, focus groups and a short online survey, the project team led by Associate Professor Mario Peucker will develop recommendations to make reporting racism easier, and to improve the responsiveness of support services.

Community survey

The purpose and goal of this project is to better understand

how pathways to report racism can be made more accessible,
how the reporting experience can be more empowering, and
how anti-racism support services be made more responsive to the needs of those who face racism.

These are some of the questions the project is trying to address by listening to the voices of people from Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities. Based on their input, suggestions and expertise, we will develop change-oriented recommendations on how to improve reporting pathways and align support services with community needs.

There are three ways this project seeks to listen to communities:

Running or co-hosting community forums: a safe space for communities to discuss various facets of racism, reporting and support options and other related topics communities are interested in.
Peer facilitated focus groups: organised by people from the community (this is a paid role), to explore how to make reporting more empowering and improve anti-racism support services.
Community survey: a short (7-8min) and anonymous online survey (available also in different community languages) for Victorian adults from multicultural and/or multifaih communities to share their suggestions and experiences around reporting racism and support needs. Participants can win prizes worth a total of $1000. Click here to start the survey (and encourage your networks to also have their say).

For more information, suggestions/questions or to get involved, visit bit.ly/3mjpcFH Or contact Dr Mario Peucker, Project Lead, Victoria University: mario.peucker@vu.edu.au

Understanding reporting barriers and support needs of people experiencing racism

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.