To effectively challenge racism and drive change, the Victorian Government must look inwards as an institution and an employer. We must consider what structures, policies and processes may perpetuate racism and respond swiftly.
To achieve this, we will focus on:
- education programs for complaint and oversight bodies to better respond to and refer reports of racism and create a safer experience for service users
- actions to reduce discrimination in policing
- developing an anti-racism monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure the effectiveness of strategy actions.
We will continue to build on our efforts to partner with First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith Victorians to make sure their voices are embedded in the design and delivery of policies and services that affect them.
For First Peoples, this means we will centre self-determination in service design. We will focus on supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to design and provide services to First Peoples that respond to community needs and goals.
As both a workplace and service provider, we will work to remove structural barriers so racist laws, policies and processes no longer stop people from fully taking part and succeeding.
Key areas for action
Initiatives to prevent discrimination in government services, systems and programs
Run education programs for complaint and oversight bodies to better respond to and refer reports of racism and create a safer experience for service users.
Embed oversight and monitoring to support accountability and track strategy progress
Establish an anti-racism monitoring and evaluation framework to support whole-of-government monitoring of the strategy.
Initiatives to reduce racism and discrimination in policing
Challenge internal biases and unequal use of discretionary policing to address the impact this has on First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith groups.
Future priority areas
- Build the capability of the Victorian Public Sector and government services to prevent and respond to racism.
- Improve our understanding of differences in outcomes for First Peoples and multicultural and multifaith groups across public services and systems.
- Improve in-language resources and build specialist capability of interpreters to improve the accessibility of critical government services.
- Strengthen the capability of law enforcement services to respond to racism, and build community awareness and trust around reporting.
Goal 2 case studies
Measuring our progress: signs of impact
We will know we are on track for success when:
- more First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith Victorians feel culturally safe and are treated with dignity and respect when using government services; this includes seeing fewer experiences of racism and discrimination for employees, clients and end-users
- there are clearer reporting pathways to complaint and oversight bodies, and more First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith Victorians understand their rights and feel supported in reporting experiences of racism and vilification
- there is an increase in understanding of the impact of systemic racism and bias on policing, and Victorian police are more skilled and confident in using a human rights approach to addressing racism and discrimination.
We will develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for this strategy to effectively:
- track trends, progress, issues and outcomes of anti-racism work across government
- develop reports with recommendations for best anti-racism practice
- report back to communities on program effectiveness.
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