University of Melbourne statement on Special Envoy’s plan to Combat Antisemitism

Statement attributable to University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO:

I note the report handed to the Prime Minister today by Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.

The University of Melbourne remains steadfast in our on-going commitment to combat antisemitism and all forms of racism.

We will continue working with Ms Segal, the industry regulator, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and our students and staff to create campuses that are safe, welcoming places of respectful dialogue.

We recognise Jewish members of our community experience particular forms of prejudice or hate which constrain their freedom to live, work, study, worship, and identify as Jewish in Australian society.

Work already underway at the University of Melbourne to address antisemitism and other forms of racism includes:

• Publishing the first Annual Report on Racism, the first university in Australia to do so.
• Reviewing our policies and procedures to ensure they appropriately address and respond to antisemitism.
• Facilitating specific training to address antisemitism for our Executive leadership, colleagues in our Safer Community Program, and those who oversee our formal complaints processes.
• Clarifying available avenues for students and staff to raise concerns about racism at the University of Melbourne, submit complaints (anonymously if preferred), seek support and/or report incidents or potentially harmful posters, stickers and graffiti.
• Appropriately documenting and assessing incidents of all kinds of racism to facilitate data and evidence-informed responses and process improvements. This may include developing a research-informed system, tailored to the Australian context and shared across the sector and with the government.
• A wide variety of academic, counselling and support services for those affected by all forms of racism, including antisemitism.

We will continue our regular dialogue with Jewish students and staff so they feel safe on our campuses at all times.