Three councils in Melbourne's north are teaming up to ensure residents have the support they need to call out, and be protected from, racism in all its forms.
Developed in collaboration by Hume City, Darebin, and Merri-bek Councils, an anti-racism support booklet is set to launch in March providing information about anti-racism protection, reporting options for victims and support services available locally and statewide.
It comes following a 2023 survey of residents in each of the council areas to better understand the barriers people face to reporting racism, and whether there are enough services available to those who want to report.
While three-quarters of survey respondents said they had experienced racism in the previous year, a majority said they felt they didn't know where to report it to, as well as fearing they would not be supported.
With the northern suburbs of Melbourne being proudly home to large migrant communities, the council alliance understood it was critical to shine a light on racism and how to fight the problem.
The anti-racism booklet is a way to honour the voices and experiences of everyday locals in tackling these concerns, directly targeting the need for more awareness and guidance on how to receive support, if they choose to.
Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, the booklet will be available online and in hard copy providing information on how to report, make a complaint or seek support if they or someone they know experience racism.
The booklet will also be translated into 10 community languages.
Additional resources include:
Hume City Council's Anti-racism Reporting and Support Services Workshop on 20 March
Hume City Council's Anti-racism and Support Services web page with information and support services links
Quotes attributable to Hume City Mayor, Cr Jarrod Bell:
"Hate has no place in Hume. Hume City's identity is rooted in its diversity, is made up of people from 170 different countries and speaking more than 155 languages. The findings that a significant number of our residents feel unsupported after experiencing racism should be confronting for all who live here.
"Everyone has the right to live as their true self; by teaming with neighbouring councils to distribute these new resources we are creating a greater awareness of the services that will keep people safe and hold offenders accountable. This is a step in the right direction to stamping out racism."
Quotes attributable to Darebin City Mayor, Cr Kristine Olaris OAM:
"In Darebin, our diversity is our collective strength. Council opposes racism and discrimination in all its forms, and we're committed to addressing our organisational imperfections and actively working with the community to building a fairer and more inclusive city.
"We believe in a racism-free Darebin, where community diversity is valued, celebrated and respected."
Quotes attributable to Merri-bek Mayor, Cr Helen Davidson:
"Merri-bek is working with our neighbouring councils to deliver this important anti-racism support guide. Everyone in our diverse community should feel safe and supported, and this resource is a practical way to help make that happen.
"Our multicultural community is what makes Merri-bek special. This new anti-racism resource, available in multiple languages, gives residents the information they need to report incidents and access support. We're committed to making our community inclusive and welcoming for everyone."
