Antiracism commitment and definitions

The University rejects all forms of racism including racial discrimination, racist harassment, and racial vilification.

We acknowledge the strength of the resistance, culture and successes of all those who have faced discrimination and marginalisation.

We celebrate the diverse scholars, leaders and alumni who have made and continue to make extraordinary contributions to the UQ and broader community. Their courage, creativity and persistence have helped foster a better university community, one that more closely reflects the Queensland, Australian and global society of which it is a part.  

The University resolves to become an antiracist institution within a multicultural Australia. This will take deliberate and sustained action to dismantle systems and structures that enable racism in all its forms to persist. 

We intend UQ to be a place where our diverse communities – members of First Nations, different races, genders, generations and sexualities, and people with disabilities – feel a sense of belonging. We call on our values of truth, integrity, courage, creativity, excellence, respect and inclusivity to ensure that UQ nurtures a sense of belonging for all.  

What is race? What is racism?

Race is a contested term that has no scientific basis. We nevertheless use the terms race, racism and racisms because of the historical, social, and political systems of disadvantage, stereotyping and prejudice based on race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin. 

Building on the definition of racism adopted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, we define racism as the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes, create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. 

Racism is more than just prejudice in thought or action. It occurs when this prejudice – whether individual or institutional – is accompanied by the power to discriminate against, oppress or limit the rights of others. Racism can manifest at a societal, institutional, interpersonal and personal level.  

The University recognises that members of our community experience racism in both direct and indirect ways. Racisms can be normalised and, thus, hidden from view. Because racism and racialised stereotypes operate within broader systems of exclusion and institutional power, racism can shift, intensifying in response to historical, social, and geopolitical dynamics, especially during periods of heightened political tension.  

At this moment, we note particularly the prevalence of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations people, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the xenophobia directed against people identified as ‘Asian’.  

Definitions

The definitions that follow have been developed by staff and students to reflect our communities’ lived experiences and UQ’s values, drawing on insights from respected external bodies including the Australian Human Right Commission.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face a unique experience of racism driven by the ongoing impact of colonialism and historical disadvantage. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been discriminated against, denied their human rights and deprived of the opportunity to participate in Australian society as equal citizens.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders continue to experience high levels of racism across multiple settings. Racism has a debilitating individual impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, devaluing their cultural pride and identity and having adverse impacts on their physical and mental health.  

Antisemitism

Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life. It can manifest in a range of ways including negative, dehumanising, or stereotypical narratives about Jews. Further, it includes hate speech, epithets, caricatures, stereotypes, tropes, Holocaust denial, and antisemitic symbols. Targeting Jews based on their Jewish identities alone is discriminatory and antisemitic.

Criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is not in and of itself antisemitic. However, criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions. It can be antisemitic to make assumptions about what Jewish individuals think based only on the fact that they are Jewish.

All peoples, including Jews, have the right to self-determination. For most, but not all Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity. Substituting the word “Zionist’’ for ‘’Jew’’ does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic.

Islamophobia

Islamophobia is a form of racism that problematises Muslim identity theologically, politically and culturally. Through racialising Muslim identity, Islamophobia treats Muslims as a homogenous racial group associated with violence, extremism or foreignness. It manifests in stereotyping, discrimination, marginalisation, hostility towards Muslim forms of dress, exclusion from communities and institutions, and violence.  

Anti-Palestinian racism

Anti-Palestinian racism is often conflated with Islamophobia, which is problematic. Anti-Palestinian racism functions to marginalise, suppress, stereotype and dismiss Palestinian identities, lived experiences, histories and voices. It can affect Christian Palestinians, secular Palestinians and non-Palestinian supporters.

Anti-Asian racism 

Anti-Asian racism has existed in Australia since colonisation, and manifests in phenomena such as collective blame for the pandemic or other health issues, ethnic misidentification, and barriers to equal access to public goods such as health care and education. Conversely, it can also include stereotyping Asian people as uniformly well-educated and wealthy, as well as positing people of Asian descent as inherently ‘foreign’.