Racism at Australian universities is widespread and systemic, according to a major report from the federal government’s human rights commission on Monday.

The report from the Australian Human Rights Commission found that racism is deeply embedded in the country’s universities and profoundly impacts students and staff.

Based on a survey of more than 76,000 students and staff at 42 universities, the report said that 70 per cent of respondents reported experiencing indirect racism, including hearing or seeing racist behaviour directed at their community.

It found that over 90 per cent of Jewish and Palestinian participants in the survey reported experiences of racism and that Indigenous Australian, African, Chinese, northeast Asian and Middle Eastern respondents also reported racism at rates exceeding 80 per cent.

“Racism harms people and communities. It damages people’s identity and self-esteem, their sense of belonging, and their wellbeing and safety. Left unchecked, it leads to violence,” Giridharan Sivaraman, Australia’s race discrimination commissioner, said in a media release.

The report was commissioned by the federal government in May 2024 to examine antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism at universities.

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report