To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony Week 2023, the Division of Equity Diversity & Inclusion launched four anti-racism grants up to the value of $2,500 each to enable students and staff at UNSW to celebrate diversity and continue to improve our culture by bringing their ideas, events and activations to tackle racial discrimination, to life.
Anti-racism projects 2023
The “My Voice Matters” program saw a team of UNSW staff from diverse disciplines collaborate with students at Matraville Sports High School to deliver a series of five workshops on confronting racism and promoting anti-racism.
The workshops, for students from Years 7-11, focused on educating students about racism and understanding experiences of racism, especially at school. The program also included an excursion to see a performance of Reckoning at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre. The play deals directly with the themes of the program and deepens understanding of the impacts of racism.
At the end of the workshop series, a professional learning session for all school staff shared insights gained from the program, including what students wanted them to know about their experiences of racism at school.
Feedback from the staff session showed that 87% of participants learned something valuable and 93% felt more confident speaking up if they witnessed or overheard racism at school.
The Postgraduate Society (PGSOC) organised celebrations of Eid-al-Fitr on 27 April and Diwali on 15 November 2023 for all students, to promote cultural diversity and inclusion and help students to broaden their understanding of the cultural festivals.
The celebrations offered students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness of different cultures and gain an appreciation for the history and meaning of the festival traditions. They also increased awareness and understanding of Islamic and Indian cultures and fostered a strong sense of belonging among the student community.
Positive feedback from attendees demonstrated the events’ successes in facilitating connections across diverse backgrounds and enriching the campus culture at the University.
'Oli Olli’, translating to ‘Light & Sound’, is UNSW Anjali Tamil Society’s hallmark production and a cultural showcase celebrating the vibrancy and uniqueness of the Tamil culture. The show blended dance, drama, and music to empower students of Tamil descent to reconnect with and celebrate their cultural heritage and identity.
The event aimed to address systemic inequalities, empower marginalised communities and combat the pervasive effects of racism and discrimination by donating ticket sale profits to aid disadvantaged students in Sri Lanka in accessing quality education.
The theatre production project had a remarkable turnout and positive reception during its initial showing. A significant number of attendees returned for the subsequent showing, accompanied by friends and family, including individuals outside the Tamil community.
Anti-Racism Projects 2021
In early 2021, the Division of Equity Diversity and Inclusion first offered grants of up to $2,500 to Arc Clubs and Collectives to support student-led projects focused on anti-racism activities.
There are over 10,000 domestic and international postgraduate students at UNSW. Tell Me Your Story was an educational event that highlighted and celebrated the cultural diversity and personal stories of these students. Postgraduate students shared their experiences of hardship, racism, self-discovery and culture, which were compiled into an electronic book following the conference.
Over 130 staff and students from within the UNSW community attended, as well as visitors, family and friends from outside the university. The event was also judged by eminent cultural and community leaders including UNSW EDI, Arc UNSW and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In addition, $2 from every ticket sold (RRP $5) was donated to a not-for-profit organisation to support the continuing COVID-19 crisis in developing countries.
Cultural Immersion was a three-day hybrid event to cater to both students that were present in Sydney and students currently studying abroad. The first day focused on discussing the history of Southeast Asia and the folktales present in the region as well. The second day consisted of a language program: wherein ASEAN society partnered with other cultural societies to provide language lessons for languages from Southeast Asia. The third day focused on discussing culture, diversity, inclusivity, and other issues faced in the ASEAN region.
The objective of Cultural Immersion was to provide students with not only the opportunity to learn more about ASEAN culture, but also to engage students in discussion about diversity and the issues faced in the Southeast Asian region.
