Challenging Racism - History

A TIMELINE

Articles/papers related to various stages of the project are avaliable in the Publications section of this website

1998

• ARC Small Grant (UNSW) received, allowing research project to commence.

1999

• Kevin Dunn presented the first conference paper on the racism research project at an Institute of Australian Geographers conference held in Sydney.
• Jim Forrest and Ian Burnley joined the project in the roles of Chief Investigators. They along with Kevin Dunn prepared the ARC Large Grant application for years 2000-2002.
• Preparation of an ARC Large Grant application expanded the project by conducting a dedicated telephone survey of racist attitudes.
• "The geographies of racism in Australia", Dunn, Burnley & Forrest, Australian Research Council, Large Grant, 2000- 2002, $114,000

2000

• Amy McDonald was appointed as Research Assistant for the project.
• Development of the questionnaire investigating people's attitudes and opinions on racism in the community.
• Theoretical consideration commenced (constructivist; sociobiological, Chicago School, Marxist). The outcome of these are explained further in Dunn and McDonald's (2001) article in Australian Geographer and in Dunn, Forrest and Burnley's (2002) paper presented at the Association of American Geographers annual meeting in Los Angeles

2001

• Survey of attitudes to diversity and experiences of racism in NSW and Queensland commissioned (funded by ARC). Undertaken by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation.
• Peer review of analysis at conferences of Geography; Race and Ethnic Studies; Urban Studies, and; Cultural Studies conferences. Peer review in Geography; Cultural Studies, and; Social Issues journals. Vidhu Gandhi joined the team as Research Assistant.

2003-5

• The first Racism Project website was officially launched on Wednesday 22nd December 2004. Including data by statistical division for NSW and QLD and by statistical subdivision for Sydney and Brisbane. Also included early publications and a brief history of the project.

2005

• Reviews of types of anti-racism by team members Pedersen and Paradies published in peer reviewed journals. At about his stage, the project turns for mapping racism to a more overt focus on assisting with anti-racism.

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2006

• Telephone survey conducted between January - March 2006. All states and territories covered, excluding Tasmania (funded by ARC). Undertaken by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation. Early analysis of survey presented at conferences and workshops.
• VicHealth commissioned telephone survey in Victoria. Survey undertaken by the Social Research Centre. Data added to the original NSW/QLD findings.
• Goldstar research grant (UNSW) awarded, and an ARC linkage proposal prepared for submission in 2007 on local anti-racism.
• Maria Ellisa Hollero's PhD ("Deconstructing the Racialisation Experience of Asian-Australians: Process, Impact and Response") accepted.
• Stephen Smith left the project to undertake fulltime doctoral studies in Geography at ADFA. Karin Maeder joined the team as Research Assistant.

2007

• VicHealth report published “More than tolerance: Embracing diversity for health'”. ARC Linkage Project 'Constructing regionally appropriate anti-racism strategies for Australia' was awarded. Funded for 2008 to 2010.
• ARC Linkage Grant awarded project titled ‘Managing cultural diversity on Australian constructions sites’ (2007 to 2010)
• A further survey, covering South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, was commissioned (funded by ACT and SA Human Rights Commissions and UNSW Goldstar grant). Survey undertaken by the Social Research Centre.

2008

• Report on attitudes to diversity, and experiences of racism, in the ACT published: “Report on 2007 Australian Capital Territory Racism Survey”. Therese Kenna began work on the team as Research Assistant.
• Surveys of attitudes on diversity, and experiences of racism, in Perth, Northern Territory and Tasmania commissioned. Funded by Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Undertaken by the Social Research Centre. A national data set (minus rural WA) compiled.
• Fieldwork conducted in South Australia (2 case study regions) consulting with stakeholders on the utility of the anti-racism materials developed. Fieldwork involved 16 interviews or focus groups sessions with key informants (July 2009; Feb. 2010; March 2010). The informants included representatives of local government, local cultural groups, ‘multiculturalism service’ providers, MRCs, and other relevant organisations. Presentations to peers on the findings from the local consultations (Assoc American Geographers Conference; Anti-racism symposia).

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2009

• Submission lodged to the Brennan Committee National Human Rights Consultation on the extent of human rights issues in Australia, and on the need for further human rights protection.
• Challenging Racism team members authored and advised on the VicHealth ‘Building on our Strengths’ Report, which charted a framework for reducing race-based discrimination in Victoria.
• Engaged by the Australian Human Rights Commission to analyse the written submissions from organisations and individuals submitted in response to the Freedom of Religion and Belief Project Discussion Paper. Report delivered in late 2009: ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century: Meta-Analysis of Submissions’. The submission was used in the AHRC final report (note pages 15-16, 73 and 79), and is available to download at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/frb/index.html#report
  

2010

• In response to attacks on international students, project data were analysed to provide a sense of the extent to which Australians of certain backgrounds are more exposed to racism (e.g. Indian-, Sri Lankan- and Chinese-Australians). The data were presented to various symposia and key government agencies during 2009 and 2010.
• NSW fieldwork undertaken in first half of 2010 (1 case study region), consulting with Sydney stakeholders on the utility of the anti-racism materials developed.
• Commissioned by VicHealth to undertake an international review of research and reports on bystander approaches to anti-racism. Report published in Nov 2010.
• Commissioned by VicHealth to undertake an international review of audit and assessment tools, programs and resources in workplace settings to prevent race-based discrimination and support diversity. Report published in Nov 2010.

2011

• Challenging Racism Project website re-launched on Wednesday 23 Feb 2011.
• ARC Discovery Project ‘Ethnic discrimination in the private rental housing market' awarded. Funded for 2011 to 2013 .
• ARC Linkage Grant awarded for the project 'An exploration of the frequency, outcomes, enablers and constraints of bystander anti-racism'. Funded for 2011 to 2014.

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