Discussion Board - Review and Comment

• Context / Introduction
• Purpose
• Process
• Next Steps
• Definition 1: Racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Definition 2: Antisemitism
• Definition 3: Islamophobia

Context / Introduction

(1) In early 2025, the University established an Anti-Racism Working Group (ARWG) to develop a new Anti-Racism Policy for the University. Targeted consultation on this Policy has taken place with students, staff, racial scholars and community groups. More recently, this Policy was also made available for staff and student feedback via the bulletin board.

(2) In July 2026, the Australian Government amended the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 to introduce new obligations relating to racism and governance. These obligations ensure that universities are in a strong position to prevent and respond to racism which further strengthens the requirements for a safe and inclusive University environment. The amended Standards require the University to have definitions for each of the following in place by 1 January 2027:

1. Racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
2. Antisemitism;
3. Islamophobia;
4. Any other definition deemed relevant to the local community.

(3) Consultation for these definitions will complement the Policy consultation mentioned above. The definition consultation process will include face-to-face sessions held on 13 October 2026 as well as an opportunity for staff and students to comment via this Discussion Board during the period of 28 September to 16 October 2026.

Purpose

(4) This document is seeking staff and student feedback on the definitions below and their alignment with the context and culture of the University of Newcastle.

Process

(5) Please leave constructive and respectful feedback on any or all of the definitions. This feedback will be treated confidentially and will only be made available to a small number of staff who are closely involved in the process. However, if you would prefer to leave an anonymous response, please use a pretend or generic email address.

Next Steps

(6) The Anti-Racism Working Group will review the de-identified feedback, along with feedback from face-to-face sessions, and make a recommendation to Council (via the Executive Leadership Team) to endorse the definitions (and Policy) in December 2026, for submission to the Government by 1 January 2027.

Definition 1: Racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

(7) This draft definition has been developed through consultation with local Indigenous leaders and the Universities Australia Indigenous Deputy Vice-Chancellor Committee.

(8) The draft definition is:

Racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is distinguished by the legal status as the First Peoples of the nation, tied not just to race, but to ongoing challenges to the status, authority and rights of First Peoples in their own Country. It occurs where systems, policies, practices, decisions, actions, omissions, attitudes or behaviours create or perpetuate racial harm, hate speech, vilification, discrimination, exclusion, oppression, or impair the equal enjoyment of rights and opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Racism may be direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional, and may operate at individual, interpersonal, institutional, systemic or structural levels.

In Australia, racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be understood within the historical and ongoing context of settler colonialism and racism constitutive of the Australian Constitution and its continuing effects on First Peoples. Universities are not exempt from these processes and have historically contributed to, and can continue to produce or perpetuate, racial harm. Universities therefore have a responsibility to prevent and address racism across governance, employment, student experience, teaching and learning, research, engagement and partnerships. 

Definition 2: Antisemitism

(9) This draft definition has been developed by an expert working group (including eminent Australians such as Alan Finkel) and is the definition previously adopted by Universities Australia in February 2025(based on full agreement by all Universities). In putting forward this definition, we have also considered the recommendation from the final report of the Group of Eight Expert Advisory Committee on Combatting Antisemitism, including that any definition must be capable of practical implementation within the Australian legal, academic freedom and regulatory context, and able to be operationalised through staff and student codes of conduct and related policies.

(10) The draft definition is:

Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life. It can manifest in a range of ways including negative, dehumanising, or stereotypical narratives about Jews. Further, it includes hate speech, epithets, caricatures, stereotypes, tropes, Holocaust denial, and antisemitic symbols. Targeting Jews based on their Jewish identities alone is discriminatory and antisemitic.

Criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is not in and of itself antisemitic. However, criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the state of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions. It can be antisemitic to make assumptions about what Jewish individuals think based only on the fact that they are Jewish.

All peoples, including Jews, have the right to self-determination. For most, but not all Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their identity. Substituting the word for “Zionist” for “Jew” does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic.

Definition 3: Islamophobia

(11) This draft definition is adapted from a definition developed by Professor Halim Rane (Griffith University) with colleagues across the Australian higher education sector. The UON adaptation, which adds a rights-based safeguard, was developed by Dr S. A. Hamed Hosseini (Sociology and Anthropology), who led the University's work on this definition. It draws on consultation with sector-leading scholars and a review of the scholarly literature, and it is offered as a starting point for consultation.

(12) The draft definition is: 

Islamophobia is a form of racism and discrimination directed at Muslims, people perceived to be Muslim, or expressions of Muslim identity. It may be interpersonal, institutional or structural, and includes prejudice, stereotyping, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation, unequal treatment or violence. It also includes subjecting Muslims, because of their actual or perceived Muslimness, to disproportionate suspicion, surveillance, risk management, securitisation, or exceptional restrictions or safety measures that are not reasonably applied to others in comparable circumstances, or that are unnecessary, lack an evidentiary basis, or infringe civil liberties, even where framed as applying more widely. Islamophobia occurs where such conduct, decisions, policies or practices undermine equal dignity, participation, opportunity, academic freedom, freedom of religion or belief, or access to university life.