Impressionable Youth Need Greater Examples Of Positive Attitudes Toward Racial Differences

Mr Sam Afra, Chairperson of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) said he was “saddened but not surprised” by two new studies that revealed a high prevalence of racism within Australian schools and the harm being done to victims’ mental health and well-being.

“When we think about the kind of signals that young people have been receiving this year regarding the acceptance of foreign students, racially-charged mockery, and asylum seekers, it is little wonder there has been a spike in incidents of intolerance and anti-social behaviour in our classrooms, playgrounds and sporting events,” Mr Afra said.

According to one study, The Impact of Racism upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians, more than two-thirds of young people are the victims of racism at school, with first-generation migrant women in years 11 and 12 most at risk.

80% of secondary students from non-Anglo backgrounds and 55% of students from Anglo backgrounds said they had experienced racial vilification.

A second report by VicHealth, titled Building on our strengths, revealed that 45% of Victorians from non-English backgrounds reported racial discrimination at a sporting or other public event.

Mr Afra said the alarming figures reflected poorly on the example being set for the youth of today.

“When people in the media say it is okay to be derogatory of others simply because their skin is darker, or politicians demonise newly-arrived migrants and refugees for political point-scoring, the message being sent to our young is that such abuse and fear-mongering is no big deal.  It is a big deal with serious repercussions as these studies show.”

The VicHealth report found that the experience of racism made students feel angry and depressed, experience more headaches and muscle tension, and not want to go to school.

“School-age children are highly impressionable and are naturally influenced by what they see and hear from parents, peers, community leaders, politicians and the media,” Mr Afra said.

Mr Afra said particular attention needed to be paid to contradictory messages being expressed in public versus those behind closed doors.

“Children and teenagers see through hypocrisy and superficiality so it is vital that positive statements about tolerance and acceptance are not undermined by intolerant comment and conduct behind the scenes,” Mr Afra stressed.

Mr Afra also called for a greater injection of funding and resources into schools to help with educational programs promoting positive interactivity and cross-cultural understanding.

For further information, please contact 0421 124 112 or 0417 489 226.