Addressing Racism in Australia Dr Yin Paradies

1. Addressing Racism in Australia Dr Yin Paradies Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University & Centre for Health and Society, University of Melbourne

3. What is racism? • Racism is the inequitable distribution of opportunity, benefit or resources across ethnic/racial groups • Racism occurs through avoidable and unfair actions that : (i) further disadvantage minority ethnic/racial groups; or (ii) further advantage dominant ethnic/racial groups • Racism is expressed through attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, norms and practices and may be either intentional or unintentional

4. Racism as oppression/privilege • Racism is one manifestation of the broader phenomenon of oppression which include, for example, sexism, ageism and classism • Oppression is intrinsically linked to the concept of privilege such that, in addition to disadvantaging Indigenous people, racism also results in White Australians being privileged and accruing unfair opportunities

5. Levels of racism • Internalised racism • Inter-personal racism • Systemic racism

7. Racism in Australia Australian born English speaking born Non-English speaking born Source: Markus and Dharmalingam, 2008

8. Racism in Victoria Workplace(%) Education(%) Often Sometimes Source: Forrest & Dunn 2007

9. Racism in Victoria Policing (%) Often Sometimes Housing(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2007

10. Racism in Victoria Sport/Public event (%) Often Sometimes Shop/Restaurant(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2007

11. Racism in Victoria Called names/insulted (%) Often Sometimes Treated with distrust (%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2007

12. Racism for Indigenous Australians Workplace(%) Education(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2004

13. Racism for Indigenous Australians Policing (%) Housing(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2004

14. Racism for Indigenous Australians Sport/Public Event (%) Shop/Restaurant(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2004

15. Racism for Indigenous Australians Called names/insulted (%) Treated with distrust(%) Source: Forrest & Dunn 2004

16. Challenging Racism Project • 28-47% nominate cultural/ethnic groups that do not fit into Australian society(e.g. Muslim, Middle Eastern, Asian) • 4-13% think it is a bad idea for people of different races to marry one another • 8-14% admitted they are personally prejudiced against other cultures Source: Challenging Racism Project Surveys

17. Challenging Racism Project • 13-21% believe that not all ‘races’ are equal • 25-46% believe that ‘Australia is weakened by ethnic groups sticking to their old ways’

18. Challenging Racism Project • 84-95% believe it is a good thing for society to be made up of different cultures • 75-88% feel secure with people from other ethnic groups • 83-93% of respondents agreed that racial prejudice exists in Australia Source: Challenging Racism Project Surveys

19. From racism to ill-health • Inequitable and reduced access to societal resources required for health (e.g. employment, education, housing, medical care) • Inequitable exposure to risk factors associated with ill health (e.g. junk food, toxic substances, dangerous goods) • Stress and negative emotional/cognitive reactions which have negative impacts on mental health as well as affecting the immune, endocrine, cardiovascular and other physiological systems

20. From racism to ill-health • Negative responses to racism (e.g. smoking, alcohol and drug use) • Disengagement from healthy activities (e.g. sleep, exercise and taking medications) • Physical injury via racially motivated assault

21. Systemic racism • Information on systemic racism is patchy at present • There is, however, robust evidence of its existence in a number of settings including health, welfare, justice, housing, employment and media

22. The health sector • Five studies have shown disparities in medical care experienced by Indigenous patients • These studies found that Indigenous patients with the same characteristics as non-Indigenous patients were about a third less likely to receive appropriate medical care across all conditions (Cunningham 2002) as well as for lung cancer (Hall et al. 2004) and coronary procedures (Coory & Walsh 2005) in particular • Indigenous patients were only one-third as likely to receive kidney transplants (Cass et al. 2003)

23. Racism and ill-health • A worldwide review located 138 studies of racism and health till the end of 2004 • Racism was strongly associated with poor mental health outcomes and, to a lesser degree, poor physical health outcomes • These associations remained after adjusting for a range of confounders and were shown in longitudinal as well as cross-sectional studies

24. Racism and ill-health • A 2009 review found 115 articles between 2005-7 on racism and health. This review confirmed the link between racism and mental ill-health • Further evidence of an association between racism and physical health including cardiovascular disease (e.g. blood pressure) • Evidence of an association between racism and health care behaviours (screening, medications etc.)

26. Racism and ill-health

27. The costs of racism • An estimated 70% of workers exposed to racism and other forms of discrimination take time off work as a result. Racism can also affect staff turnover, recruiting and inducting replacement staff as well as overall workplace morale and productivity • Health and social costs associated with the long- and short-term consequences of racism • Costs of racism-related unemployment, early school leaving, poor educational outcomes and involvement in the criminal justice system

28. Implications • The contribution of racism to a range of mental and physical health outcomes highlights the importance of further research in this area • Such findings also demonstrate the need to conduct anti-racism interventions not only to address racism as a breach of human rights but also as necessary public health initiatives

29. Anti-racism research • Very few anti-racism programs implemented in ‘real-world’ conditions have been evaluated • However, there is a body of theory and experimental work undertaken in laboratory or other tightly controlled conditions • There are also a number of reports and guides identifying promising practices

30. A framework to address racism • Recognises the interactions between stereotypes and prejudices, discrimination in the form of everyday acts and systemic racism within ideologies and structures • Recognises racism as a major cause of disadvantage but contend that addressing disadvantage through access and/or equity approaches only addresses the symptoms of racism rather than racism itself • Advocates for comprehensive strategies to combat racism across multiple levels – the individual, the organisation, community and society

32. Fostering knowledge and understanding Personalises others as fellow human beings Reduces uncertainty about interactions and the associated avoidance/discomfort Aids in the the recognition of injustice

33. Fostering knowledge and understanding Increasing empathy Consciousness raising Accurate information (dispelling false beliefs) Highlighting incompatible beliefs

34. Positive contact and relationships Increasing personal accountability Breaking down group barriers

35. Reducing inequalities and positive norms Social norm formation Organisational accountability

37. Organisational development • Organisational audits • New organisational plans, policies & processes • Diversity training • Resource development • Organisational leadership • Intergroup contact in organisational settings

38. Communications & social marketing • Whole of population campaigns • Integrating messages into existing media • Materials to dispel myths, raise awareness • Community arts projects

39. Legislative & policy reform • Development & implementation of plans/policies • Incorporation of anti-racism objectives into existing plans/policies • Monitoring existing plans and policies

40. Direct participation programs • Intergroup contact • Cooperative learning • Community or school-based awareness-raising • Deliberative polls

41. Community strengthening • Developing leadership in minority ethnic communities • Developing leadership within broader community • Network and partnership building • Intergroup contact in community settings • Symbolic activities (built environment/local identity)

42. Advocacy • Bystander education • Local advocacy groups • Advocacy for higher level policy change

43. Anti-racism cautions • There is evidence that ill-conceived anti-racism strategies, or even well-planned strategies in the wrong contexts or with the wrong audiences can increase racism • All strategies need to be carefully piloted, with the target audience and in the relevant contexts, to minimise the risk of doing harm

45. LEAD • The LEAD Program is a multi-level, multi-setting and multi-method approach to tackling interpersonal and institutional racism in partnership with local government • The program will operate in two Victorian LGAs over three years from July 2009. It will be developed and implemented in partnership between local government, VicHealth, and the VEOHRC

46. LEAD • The LEAD Program aims to bring about tangible reductions in racism and racial discrimination • It will be thoroughly evaluated in order to build knowledge and evidence for the primary prevention of racial discrimination • Program findings will be used in dissemination and advocacy activity to inform future policy, program development and practice

47. LEAD • By the end of LEAD we hope to have much stronger evidence on the success of specific strategies in preventing racial discrimination and of the effectiveness of using multiple and reinforcing methods • We also aim to develop evidence on the efficacy of local-level anti-racism programs, and of the coordinating role that local governments can play in this process

48. Questions Contact: yinp@unimelb.edu.au