Racism in retail settings: standing up against discrimination in everyday places

This episode of Know Your Rights explores how racism shows up during ordinary shopping trips, how it harms people’s wellbeing and access to services, and where to go for help. You’ll hear practical legal advice and stories of community response, as well as simple steps businesses and communities can take to make everyday places safer and more welcoming.

Listen to your racism in retail settings episode here:

Episode overview

Imagine going into a shop for something small and being met with suspicious looks, being watched, having your bag checked, or being ignored while everyone else is served. For too many First Peoples, these humiliating experiences are part of regular life in retail and hospitality settings.

Guests featured in this episode

Siobhan Doyle – Principal Managing Lawyer, Civil & Human Rights Practice, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS). Siobhan explains how discrimination in retail settings is handled legally and how VALS supports clients through letters, conciliation and tribunal processes.

Lorena Walker – Community Legal Education Project Officer, VALS. A proud Western Arrernte and Luritja woman from Mparntwe / Alice Springs, Lorena speaks from lived experience about how retail discrimination feels and how community support can help.

Know Your Rights is narrated by journalist Jedda Costa — a proud Wemba Wemba, Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa and Mutti Mutti woman with many years’ experience covering Indigenous stories.

In this episode you will discover:

How retail racism shows up: being followed, unfair bag/receipt checks, refusal of service and hostile treatment.
The legal concept of being treated “unfavourably” because of Aboriginality and how this can form the basis for a complaint.
Why recording details (time, place, description, witnesses) and keeping evidence matters.
How VALS approaches cases: letters to retailers, conciliation with the Commission, VCAT as a formal option.
The emotional toll of reporting and how culturally safe legal support can help.
Practical steps for retailers: training, cultural awareness, signage and employing First Nations staff.
Where to get help locally and how community advocacy can create change.

Song credits:

Call It Out – David Arden
Koori Woman – Carole Fraser – Acknowledging the late Aunty Carole Fraser’s track – rest in peace pioneer and trailblazer – titled ‘Koori Woman’. We use this song with permission from family and with respect.

Protected attributes in Victoria under the Equal Opportunity Act (2010)

The following is a full list of protected attributes in Victoria under section 6 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010:

age
breastfeeding
employment activity
gender identity
disability
industrial activity
lawful sexual activity
marital status
parental status or status as a carer
physical features
political belief or activity
pregnancy
profession, trade or occupation
race
religious belief or activity
sex
sex characteristics
sexual orientation
an expunged homosexual conviction
a spent conviction
and personal association (whether as a relative or otherwise) with a person who is identified by reference to any of the above attributes.

Find out how VEOHRC can help

Have you or someone you know experienced race discrimination? Learn how VEOHRC can support you.

You can get more information from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, make a complaint or report
If you make a formal complaint we will take it through our conciliation process. Conciliation is an informal flexible approach to finding an outcome to a complaint
Outcomes can include an agreement to give an apology, to do cultural safety training, change policies and procedures, to keep your job or get it back, and give financial compensation
If you don’t want to make a formal complaint but want to report race discrimination, you can make an anonymous report to us through our online community reporting tool
If you think you may have experienced race discrimination you can contact the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Monday to Friday to speak with an inquiry officer on 1300 292 153
All our staff are specifically trained to support First Nations people when they are seeking information or making a complaint.

Download the transcript here

Transcript- Racism in retail settings – standing up against discrimination in everyday places(DOCX 52kB)

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