As workplaces across Australia mark NAIDOC Week with corporate breakfasts and office morning teas, new research reveals that racism against Indigenous workers remains pervasive. A survey by the Centre for Indigenous People and Work found that 58% of Indigenous respondents experienced racism sometimes, often, or very often at work.
Persistent Racism Despite NAIDOC Week Celebrations
The findings come amid a parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate, and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which has received nearly 600 submissions. The inquiry is holding hearings around Australia for at least another month, following an attempted bombing of a peaceful Invasion/Survival Day rally in Boorloo/Perth on January 26. A 31-year-old man was charged with engaging in a terrorist act after allegedly throwing a home-made explosive into a crowd; it failed to detonate.
Glacial Pace of Change
The Gari Yala: Speak the Truth report, based on a survey of 1,158 Indigenous workers, captures experiences of work as told by First Nations people. It shows that racism at work—both institutional and interpersonal—drives down job satisfaction, increases turnover intentions, and damages employer reputation. In 2020, only 26% of Indigenous workers reported never hearing racial slurs or jokes at work; by 2025, that figure had edged up to just 29%. At this rate, it will take generations to eliminate racist comments from workplaces.
Reconciliation Action Plans Make a Difference
Workplaces with Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) show significant improvements. The survey found that 50% of Indigenous workers in RAP organisations rarely or never experience racism, compared to 36% elsewhere. RAP organisations are three times more likely (34% versus 10%) to have both an anti-racism complaints process and training. They also strengthen career pathways for Indigenous employees and reduce unpaid cultural labour, such as being asked to organise Reconciliation Week events. One respondent from Brisbane in their 40s said: "In the past I would not openly share my Indigenous identity at work due to fear of racism... In my current workplace I shared my identity as I felt safe to do so and was involved in RAP working groups and an Indigenous employee network."
Two Key Areas Lagging
Anti-racism complaint procedures and anti-discrimination training are critical for making Indigenous workers feel safe. However, only one in three employees surveyed said their organisation had a racism complaint procedure, only 36% said their organisation provided anti-discrimination training, and only 21% said their organisation provided both. These figures have barely changed since 2020. Many respondents reported that systems failed to respond effectively when racism was raised, and some complainants faced retaliation. As one regional Queensland worker in their 40s said: "When racism is reported, it must be taken seriously, acted upon swiftly and met with appropriate outcomes. Ignoring it only reinforces unsafe environments and silences First Nations voices."
Treating Racism Like Sexism Under Law
The Centre for Indigenous People and Work, along with the federal race discrimination commissioner, has called for racism to be treated as seriously as sexism under the law. Since December 2022, Australian workplaces have had a "positive duty" under the Sex Discrimination Act, requiring employers to take reasonable measures to eliminate sexual discrimination and harassment. So far, there has been little movement on a similar duty for racism. The current inquiry on racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may consider whether such a duty could make a difference.
