Your education, your rights: standing up against discrimination in school
In this episode, we’re talking about the experiences of Aboriginal students in schools across Victoria. You’ll hear powerful stories from parents, educators and advocates and we’ll unpack the laws hat protect your child’s right to equality and dignity, and how you can stand up for them.
Play now to listen, learn, and be part of creating safer, fairer schools for every Aboriginal child.
Listen to your education, your rights episode here
Episode overview
Walking into a classroom should mean stepping into a place of learning and belonging. But for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, school can be a place where they face low expectations, stereotypes, exclusion or silence when racism happens. Over time, these experiences can affect confidence, mental health and a young person’s belief in their own future.
In this episode of Know Your Rights, you’ll learn how racism shows up in schools, how it impacts our kids, and what families and communities can do to push for safer, more supportive learning environments. While the topic is serious, this conversation also highlights strength, advocacy and the positive change that is possible when schools truly listen.
Guests featured in this episode:
- Mark Rose is a proud Gunditjmara man, a Distinguished Professor and Indigenous Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Deakin University. With decades of experience in education, including as a school principal, Mark shares deep insight into how racism operates in school systems and what meaningful change can look like.
- Djallarna Hamilton is a Wamba Wemba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, a teacher and mother of three. She speaks from lived experience, both as an educator and as a parent about advocating for children, navigating school systems, and the emotional toll racism can take on young people and families.
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:
- The difference between overt racism (direct and obvious) and covert racism (subtle, hidden or systemic), and why covert racism can be harder to challenge
- How past education policies still affect Aboriginal families and communities today
- The impact of racism at school on mental health, confidence and school engagement
- Why many Aboriginal parents and carers have to become strong advocates just to ensure their children are treated fairly
- How stereotypes about what Aboriginal students “should” be good at can limit opportunities and aspirations
- The importance of culturally strong role models in schools and why representation matters
- What culturally safe education can look like, including approaches that place Aboriginal students at the centre of learning
- Why teacher training, cultural understanding and accountability in schools are key to long-term change
- Where to go for support if you or your child experiences race discrimination in education
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.
