‘Speak the truth’: Australian workplaces culturally unsafe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with 44% reporting racial slurs

Nov 17, 2020

Australian workplaces are culturally unsafe for Indigenous employees, according to a new study that found 44% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers experience racial slurs at work.

The report draws on a survey with over 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers across Australia and puts forward recommendations for how organisations can improve inclusion for Indigenous staff.

Led by the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research and Diversity Council Australia, and sponsored by National Australia Bank and Coles, the report is titled Gari Yala, which means ‘speak the truth’ in the Wiradjuri language.

The report found more than a quarter of respondents said they work in culturally unsafe workplaces, while 38% reported being treated unfairly because of their Indigenous background, and 44% reported hearing racial slurs sometimes, often or all the time.

https://www.smartcompany.com.au/peop...ander-workers/