Australian Human Rights Commission Respect at Uni Interim Report December 2024 is obviously a colonial load because we are a really small unit and [it is] completely not appropriate and not sustainable. 46 First Nations academics described expectations from universities that they would carry the cultural/colonial load: Even though it is not on your PD [position description], you know… what is expected, without it being said, that you must carry that load. And if you do not fulfil that role, you’re out the door. 47 Others noted that increased cultural awareness of non-Indigenous staff has ironically, increased the load on First Nations staff: Increased awareness equals increased cultural load because nonIndigenous academics want to do the right thing, but they think the right thing is tapping the very small number of Aboriginal academics to help. 48 Finding respectful, sustainable ways to engage with First Nations staff and students needs to be balanced with an awareness that cultural capability and safety are everyone’s responsibility and cannot be abrogated by First Nations Peoples, regardless of good intentions. Connected to cultural load is the concept of identity strain, which refers to ���the strain employees feel when they or others view their identity as not meeting the norms of expectations of the dominant culture in the workplace… [expending] effort and energy maintaining their identity in the workplace to avoid negative consequences of discrimination, harassment, bias and marginalisation.’ 49 First Nations academics described the tensions that they face in balancing the expectations of their community and university norms and expectations. In Commission consultations, First Nations academics, and academic and non-academics staff from other negatively racialised backgrounds, described an exhausting and often fraught position when individuals speak up despite potential negative consequences to their careers. (b) Jewish students and staff The Commission’s initial consultations with Jewish students outlined experiences and the increased prevalence of antisemitism since October 2023. Experiences of antisemitism are also documented in the Inquiry into Antisemitism in Universities and the Australian Jewish Student Experience Survey. Jewish students and community groups note that antisemitism is an entrenched issue, with Stand With Us Australia submitting to the Inquiry ‘that the events that occurred on 7 October 2023 were a ‘catalyst’ that exacerbated ‘an already dangerous environment.’ 50 37