Racism in all its forms — individual, institutional, and every day — has no place in South Australia or within our public sector workforce.
The South Australian public sector is committed to proactively removing racist barriers that harm Aboriginal peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
An Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan outlines how the sector will reject racism within our workforce and in the community we serve.
All public sector employees are encouraged to educate themselves about anti-racism and the role we can play as individuals, teams and as a sector to foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Downloads
Watch the recording of the Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan launch (8 November 2023) to learn about its importance for the public sector and the broader South Australian community.
Anti-racism is a commitment to actively opposing and eradicating racism in all its forms. It involves:
- acknowledging that racism exists
- understanding its impact
- taking action to eliminate it
Anti-racism goes beyond not being racist. It requires actively working to dismantle systems, practices and attitudes that create or maintain racial inequality.
The South Australian Public Sector Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan outlines how the South Australian Government will build a culturally capable workforce that rejects racism in all its forms.
It was:
- developed in consultation with community leaders and institutions
- informed by the experiences of Aboriginal peoples and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
- approved by Cabinet on 14 August 2023
The strategy complements existing initiatives, including:
- Closing the Gap
- the South Australian Multicultural Charter
- agency-level diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
Since colonisation began almost 250 years ago, racism has continued to have a profound impact on Aboriginal peoples across all aspects of life, including social, emotional and cultural wellbeing.
These impacts also extend to many culturally and linguistically diverse communities in South Australia, who continue to experience prejudice and unfair treatment.
Taking action on anti-racism helps to:
- address historical and ongoing inequities
- support healing and improved wellbeing outcomes
- create a fair and inclusive public sector
- promote a workforce where people of all backgrounds can participate and thrive
By speaking up for anti-racism, the public sector can help address racial inequality and contribute to a more inclusive, equitable and respectful society.
The strategy will:
- acknowledge the impact of racism on Aboriginal and CALD communities
- enable employees through training and learning resources
- embed anti-racism in leadership and decision-making
- strengthen inclusive and safe workplaces
- communicate and promote anti-racism across the sector
- monitor progress and ensure accountability
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) focuses on creating a workforce where:
- people from diverse backgrounds are represented
- everyone has equitable access to opportunities
- all employees feel included and valued
Anti-racism is a specific part of DEI that actively targets racial discrimination by addressing systemic racism, prejudice and bias.
Racism has no place in South Australia or in our workforce.
The public sector has zero tolerance for racism and is committed to building a culturally capable, inclusive and respectful workforce.
The South Australian public sector recognises that racism has had a lasting impact since colonisation began almost 250 years ago. Aboriginal peoples continue to experience the effects of racism, including intergenerational impacts on social, emotional and cultural wellbeing.
These challenges also extend to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, who continue to experience prejudice and unfair treatment.
Taking a stand against racism demonstrates the public sector’s commitment to:
- addressing historical and ongoing racial inequities
- removing barriers that impact participation and wellbeing
- building a culturally capable and accountable workforce
By speaking up for anti-racism, the public sector is working to create a more inclusive, equitable and respectful society, and a workforce where everyone can belong and thrive.
A comprehensive evaluation approach has been developed to monitor progress and outcomes of the Anti-Racism Strategy.
Progress will be tracked through:
- public sector employee and agency surveys
- workforce and employment data
- population and wellbeing data
Annual updates will be published to support transparency and accountability.
Download the 2024 Annual Monitoring Report Infographic (PDF, 560KB)
Eradicating racism is everyone’s responsibility. You can:
- educate yourself about racism and its impacts
- support colleagues who experience racism
- listen to and amplify diverse perspectives
- report inappropriate behaviour
- participate in training and initiatives
Being an ally means actively challenging racism and supporting inclusive practices in the workplace.
Racism can take many forms, including:
- microaggressions (subtle comments or behaviours)
- unconscious or systemic bias
- exclusion or unequal opportunities
- overt behaviour such as slurs or insults
Understanding these behaviours helps create safer and more respectful workplaces.
The South Australian public sector has a zero-tolerance approach to racism. Racist behaviour is inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and Public Sector Values.
If you experience or witness racism:
- report it to your manager, Executive or HR
- use your agency’s work health and safety systems
- seek support through your Employee Assistance Program
You can also seek external support from:
If you feel unsafe or need support, contact your agency’s Employee Assistance Program to speak with a qualified counsellor.