Racism remains a significant problem in Australian society — from institutional discrimination in employment and housing to everyday racism experienced by people of colour, to the systemic racism that contributes to Indigenous incarceration and health inequity. Australia's Racial Discrimination Act 1975 prohibits racial discrimination, but legal remedies are slow and inadequate, and structural racism embedded in institutions is harder to address through law. Grant funding supports anti-racism education, racial discrimination advocacy, research on racism's impact, and the systemic reforms that build a more equitable, racially just Australia.
The evidence
Who experiences racism
Forms of racism
Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Federal legislation prohibiting racial discrimination.
Australian Human Rights Commission
Receives and investigates racial discrimination complaints.
Multicultural Affairs offices
State multicultural affairs agencies — some racial equity programming.
AHRC Race Discrimination Commissioner
Advocacy and education role.
Australian Human Rights Commission
Education and awareness.
The Paul Ramsay Foundation
Ending systemic disadvantage including racial inequity.
Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner
Policy advocacy.
Amnesty International Australia
Human rights including racial justice.
Justice Connect
Legal assistance for racial discrimination.
Community legal centres
Racial discrimination legal services.
Anti-racism education
Legal assistance and advocacy
Research
Institutional reform
Community support
Media and representation
Indigenous-specific
Healing and solidarity
Australia's Racial Discrimination Act Section 18C prohibits speech that offends, insults, humiliates, or intimidates on the basis of race. This has been controversial:
- Critics: limits free speech
- Supporters: necessary protection for communities experiencing racial vilification
Legal cases under 18C have been significant, including QUT case and others. Community legal centres that help people exercise their rights under the RDA are doing important work.
Structural change
Interpersonal anti-racism education is important but insufficient — structural racism is embedded in institutions and policies. Applications that address structural racism — through institutional reform, policy advocacy, and audit of systems — are more ambitious.
Community-led
Racial equity work is most credible when led by the communities experiencing racism. Applications with genuine community leadership — people of colour in design and governance — are more appropriate.
Intersectionality
Racism doesn't operate in isolation — it intersects with gender, class, disability, and other factors. Applications that understand intersectionality are more sophisticated.
Evidence
Racism advocacy is strengthened by evidence. Applications that generate evidence on racism's prevalence and impact — through surveys, case documentation, economic analysis — make advocacy more powerful.
Tahua's grants management platform supports racial equity funders and anti-racism organisations — with programme reach tracking, community engagement data, policy outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help racial equity funders demonstrate their investment in a more just and inclusive Australia.