What to do when children and teenagers experience racism

Key Points

• Racism can harm health, wellbeing and development for children and teenagers
• You can support children who are experiencing racism by listening, validating feelings, reassuring children, and reporting the racism
• When children experience racism at school, get help from the school or from higher authorities as soon as you can
• Seek professional help if children show signs of mental health problems after experiencing racism
• Looking after yourself can help you cope with experiences of racism and better support children

Racism: how it affects children and teenagers in Australia

Racism is a common experience for many children and teenagers in Australia, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, or newly arrived refugee and migrant families. It’s always harmful to children and their families.

Children might witness or experience racism in many ways – at school, in the community, online, on TV or in other forms of media.

When children and teenagers experience racism, it can affect their health, education, wellbeing and development in the short and long term. For example, children who experience racism are more likely to have anxiety, depression and physical illness. They’re at greater risk of suicide. And racism can harm their self-esteem and academic performance.

Witnessing racism can be stressful and upsetting for children and teenagers too. It can be especially traumatic if they witness racism against someone from their own cultural or ethnic background – for example, if a child sees their parents experiencing racism.

If children and teenagers experience racism and also discrimination because of their culture, religion, language, gender or sexuality, their health and wellbeing can be at even greater risk.

What racism looks like

• Name calling or racial slurs
• Comments about skin colour, appearance, or stereotypes
• Questions like “Where are you really from?”
• Excluding children from activities
• Harassment or physical violence
• Questioning people’s cultural or ethnic identity – this might include saying, ‘You can’t be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander if your skin is white’

Microaggressions

Racism is overt at times.

However, many times, it can be very insidious and come in the form of “microaggressions”. This can include statements like “Wow, you can speak English so well!” or “People like you don’t usually want to go to University! Well done.”

These microaggressions can at times be more severe and have longer lasting effects than overt racism. They can create chronic worthlessness, low motivation, anxiety, and shame about an individual’s core identity.

It’s critical to address these microaggressions as actively as we address overt racism and to never disregard them. 

Islamophobia in Australia

Islamophobia in Australia

Islamophobia and racism towards people due to their ethnic or religious background (including anti-semitism) are currently on the rise in Australia. This is very damaging to people’s health, wellbeing and the community fabric.

Since 2023, The Islamophobia Register has had an increase in reports by 1300%, which is a conservative estimate, as many incidents go unreported.

Much of this Islamophobia has been experienced by young people online, such as posting images generated by artificial intelligence of Muslim girls without their hijab. For young girls who value their culture, and who are experiencing intense physical and emotional changes in adolescence, this experience can be very psychologically distressing. It can also affect their sense of physical and psychological safety in society, sense of safety at school, their engagement with education, their academic progress and their Australian identity.

Supporting children and teenagers when they experience racism

Racism can harm children’s health, spirit, wellbeing and development. If your child experiences racism, your support can reduce the harm and help your child cope.

Here are ways to support your child:

• Tune in to your child’s feelings. You can do this by stopping, listening to what your child is saying and reflecting their feelings. For example, ‘It makes sense that you feel angry. I’d feel that way too if someone did this to me’.
• Praise your child for telling you what happened.
• Tell your child that what happened isn’t their fault.
• Let your child know that they can come to you whenever they want to talk.
• Remind your child of their strength and everything that makes them proud of their identity.
• Ask someone who has experienced racism to talk about how they handled it – for example, a family member or a trusted adult in your community. This might help your child feel less alone while learning how to respond to racism.

Your child might feel ashamed or afraid to talk to you about their experiences of racism. If this sounds like your situation, you could suggest that your child talk to another trusted adult, like an Elder, cousin, family friend or the Aboriginal and Islander education officer or multicultural education officer at school. Your child can also contact Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Practical Actions

It’s essential to be attuned to changes in your child such as social withdrawal, an increase in anxiety, decreasing self-esteem or increase in negative thoughts. Racism can have very long-lasting effects on multiple dimensions in a child’s life, especially microaggressions. Always ensure that the child is able to be proud of their whole identity and be aware if they carry any long lasting shame from racist experiences.

Responsible adults (parents, teachers and others) can then take some practical actions. Practical actions may include:

• Ensuring physical and psychological safety – deleting images, addressing perpetrator behaviour, disciplinary measures, actioning the necessary reporting and taking any legal action required
• Keep detailed records of the incidents to support and inform changes that need to be made. This includes what happened, when, who was involved including witnesses, and what has happened since. Also keep evidence like emails or screenshots.
• Addressing the racist environment within school or other contexts that enabled the behaviour. This can include examining and addressing problem areas in school culture, conducting education and training for staff involved
• Combating the psychological harm by creating a positive connection with the young person’s culture
• Having positive cultural experiences that celebrate diversity e.g. visiting the Islamic Museum of Australia, celebrating Chinese New Year and Diwali
• Incorporating culturally diverse perspectives in everyday life at school and at home e.g. books, art, plays, movies from people with lived experience Increase connection with a child’s sense of cultural and religious identity
• Increase connection with a child’s sense of cultural and religious identity

Racism at school: what to do

School is one of the places that children commonly experience racism. The racism might come from students, teachers or parents.

If your child is experiencing racism from anyone at school, it’s important to address it with the school as soon as you can.

First, make an appointment with a school representative. This might be your child’s teacher, a year coordinator, an Aboriginal and Islander education officer or a Wellbeing Officer.

You can find more information about how to prepare for the meeting here.

If you feel that your concerns aren’t being addressed by the school representative, you can take this issue to your school’s leadership team or principal.

It’s a good idea to have frequent and age-appropriate conversations about racism with your child, not just when they experience racism. This helps your child develop anti-racist attitudes and prepare for witnessing or experiencing racism. It also shows your child that it’s safe to talk to you about racism and other tough topics.

Racism in other settings: what to do

Children experience racism in settings other than schools too – for example, sport or clubs. In those settings, you can also report the incident to a responsible representative of the venue (e.g. center Management at a Shopping Center) or the Human Rights Commission. If the incident occurs online, you can report it to the eSafety Commissioner.

Professional help for children and teenagers experiencing racism
When children and teenagers experience racism, it can lead to health and wellbeing
problems.
It’s important to seek professional help if your child shows signs of childhood mental
health problems or teenage mental health problems after experiencing racism.
These signs include mood, behaviour, sleep or physical health changes that go on
for more than a few weeks.

You could start by talking to a trusted GP or Aboriginal health worker. They can
refer you to appropriate professionals and services – for example, a
local counsellor or psychologist.

Legal Advice

You might consider seeking legal advice if your child’s safety is at risk or violent or criminal offences have occurred.

If you or your child are ever in immediate or life-threatening danger, call emergency services on 000 straight away.

Make a report or complaint, if this feels safe. For example, you could complain to the school, the sports club committee, the social media service provider, the organisation’s management or customer services team, Islamophobia Register,or the Australian Human Rights Commission.

When your family is experiencing racism: looking after yourself

It’s upsetting to find out that your child is experiencing racism. It’s also upsetting if the racist incident involves you or triggers memories of your own experiences.

Looking after yourself can help you cope with your family’s experiences of racism. And if you look after yourself, you’ll be better able to support your child. Here are ways to look after yourself:

• Talk to friends or family about how you’re feeling.
• Ask for and accept practical help from family and friends – for example, help with household tasks. This can give you more time to relax and look after yourself.
• Search online for a local or online support group to meet others who might have similar experiences.
• Contact a parenting helpline for support.
• Look after your physical health. This includes eating well and exercising, resting and connecting with Country when you can.
• Try breathing exercises, muscle relaxation or mindfulness to relax and reduce stress.

If you’re struggling to cope, see your GP or a health worker in your community. They can refer you to a mental health professional or connect you with other appropriate services.