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June 27, 2022
  • THE MAGAZINE OF THE NSW NURSES AND MIDWIVES’ ASSOCIATION
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racial discrimination

80% of Australian Muslims have experienced discrimination: survey 

August 4, 2021 by Rayan Calimlim Leave a Comment

An Australian Human Rights Commission survey has found damning evidence of discrimination against Muslims in Australia. 

The Commission’s Sharing the Stories of Australian Muslims project found that almost 80% of those surveyed had experienced some form of unfavourable treatment due to their religion, race or ethnicity. 

Further, 23% said that they felt unable to speak up when they or someone they knew experienced discrimination. 

The Commission said that the study highlighted the importance of anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies to deliver “systemic change for the future”. 

“The report highlights community-identified solutions to the challenges raised in connection to each of its themes,” the Commission said. 

Despite these negative findings, the report indicated that 63% of those surveyed found that Australia was generally a “welcoming society”. Further, 74% identified with being “Australian”. 

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association continues to campaign against racism in Australian society. To find out more about their “Racism: it stops with me” campaign, visit their website. 

Under-reporting of workplace discrimination rife in health

September 18, 2019 by sheen

Widespread cultural discrimination between workers in the health sector has been exposed in a new report, with one in four nurses and midwives experiencing racial discrimination monthly.

‘The Cultural Safety Gap’ report, released by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), also revealed two in three nurses and midwives did not report the incident, while almost 90 per cent were unaware of any cultural support programs in their workplace.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the value of having culturally and linguistically diverse nurses or midwives in a workplace was often contradicted by a lack of respect they experience as individuals in the same healthcare setting.

“Historically, the focus has often been on workers being aware of patients’ or residents’ cultural backgrounds or sensitivities, while little has been done to encourage inclusiveness between work colleagues.

“Our report shows culturally and linguistically diverse nurses and midwives employed at all levels, and in all types of health settings, experienced some form of racial discrimination in their workplace,” Mr Holmes said.

“The discrimination they experienced ranged from direct verbal attacks, to isolation and unfair scheduling of workloads.

“The main form of racial discrimination was stereotyping, with 54 per cent of respondents being subjected to stereotyping based on their culture, language or appearance.

“Workplace discrimination is also not confined to one specific area of the health sector either. These issues are prevalent across the public health system, private sector and also in aged care.”

Despite nurses and midwives being required to pass English competency assessments before they can obtain registration to practice in Australia, accent or language discrimination is also widespread.

“Thirty per cent of nurses and midwives confirmed they had been instructed not to speak languages other than English in the workplace,” said Mr Holmes, most commonly in residential aged care.

Mr Holmes said the report clearly indicated more work was required to improve organisational cultures, in an effort to close the cultural safety gap for nurses and midwives.

The NSWNMA is working with SafeWork NSW, Anti-Discrimination NSW and the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra to promote inclusiveness and build cultural safety in workplaces.

Download this release: Under-reporting of workplace discrimination rife in health

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