NAATSIHWP believes that Australia’s future looks improved with: The full implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart as it was intended as a first step to providing increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to exercise their autonomy and selfdetermine the futures of communities, children and land. — submission from National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, NARF project, May 2021 – April 2022 Participant feedback demonstrates it is essential a framework is informed by and aligns with anti-racism initiatives developed by First Nations peoples, upholding First Nations peoples’ right to self-determination. The need for definitions Feedback from many consultation participants and those who made submissions, pointed to the importance of defining ‘racism’ for the purposes of the framework. In its Concept Paper about a national anti-racism framework, the Commission recognised that there are different dimensions of racism and racial inequality in Australia and that greater community understanding of racism is needed. Throughout the project the Commission received feedback that current definitions of racism are outmoded, little understood, and do not effectively capture the experience of racial discrimination. Participants outlined that an effective definition must reflect a nuanced and intersectional understanding of racism, one that is community-centric and informed by the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Feedback pointed to the significance of definitions in informing racial literacy, strategic approaches to anti-racism work, as well as in working to build confidence in anti-racism initiatives. The Commission heard from organisations and individuals that clear definitions of ‘race’, ‘racism’ and ‘anti-racism’ were among the most important components of a national anti-racism framework. Clear definitions will be so crucial in providing guidance for government, NGO’s and businesses. It is the foundation to building strategies in anti-racism. — submission from the Lowitja Institute, NARF project, May 2021 – April 2022 Taking an ecosystem approach Participants, including government agencies, conveyed the importance of a definition of racism that takes an ecosystem approach. [T]he definition of racism must encapsulate the wide range of experiences that people have as a result of individual and systemic racism, and the impact it has on individuals and cultural groups. — submission from Equal Opportunity Tasmania, NARF project, May 2021 – April 2022 National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report 2022 | 52