Maribyrnong residents who’ve experienced racism are being asked to share their stories as part of efforts to combat the problem.
A survey asking residents about their experience with racism is currently being circulated as part of the Maribyrnong Anti-Racism Project 2025.
Funded by Maribyrnong council, the anti-racism project is conducted by Associate Professor Mario Peucker from Victoria University who has conducted similar studies in the Wyndham, Whittlesea, Greater Dandenong and Casey local government areas.
“They all had their unique local findings, but there were also many similarities across all three such as high levels of experiencing racism and very low reporting of racism,” said Associate Professor Peucker of his previous studies.
“The reasons for not reporting were also relatively similar. Resignation, hopelessness that anything would change and a lack of awareness on where to report it and how to report it.”
While he anticipates similar results in Maribyrnong, Associate Professor Peucker said the feedback would still be valuable in helping design anti-racism measures tailored for the local community.
In order to achieve this though, only those affected by racism can participate.
“We want to hear from anyone from multicultural, multi-faith and first nations backgrounds,” he said.
“We consider those communities to be affected but it doesn’t that every person within them has experienced racism or prejudice.”
Participants must also live, work study or spend a significant amount of time in Maribyrnong.
Along with the survey, the anti-racism project also includes discussion groups and workshops which will continue until the end of this year before a report containing key findings and
recommendations is presented to Maribyrnong council and put into action.
Associate Professor Peucker said the evidence from the previous local government areas he’s worked in is that these changes can quickly make a difference.
“The most important implementation was setting up local community led anti-racism support networks. They’re unique in Australia,” he said of the networks established in Wyndham in 2021 and in Casey, Whittlesea and Greater Dandenong in 2023.
“They provide the kind of support that communities told us in the study that they would like to have.”
Details: https://shorturl.at/jWxtj
