First Nations Consultations For the Australian Human Rights Commission Participants across the virtual sessions offered insights into how institutional practices and policies either mitigate or perpetuate racism. Their feedback was instrumental in identifying areas where systemic change is urgently needed. Participants provided a macro-level view of the structural and systemic nature of racism. They discussed the broader implications of racism on policymaking, resource allocation, and service delivery. Their input emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration in eradicating racism. 3.1.3 Written Submissions: Organisations were offered the opportunity to submit written submissions as an additional method to contribute to the consultations. One joint submission was received from the Close the Gap Campaign, National Health and Leadership Forum (NHLF)1 and the Public Health Association of Australia. The multi-modal, flexible and culturally informed approach to engagement and consultation ensured comprehensive data collection which captured a wide range of perspectives and experiences. This robust foundation is crucial for understanding the impact of racism across different regions and informing the development of a relevant and effective National Anti-Racism Framework. 3.1.4 Survey Participation: Survey participants primarily consisted of community members, with a significant portion also comprising of service providers and sector representatives. The diversity of respondents included individuals from different professional backgrounds, geographic locations, and age groups, ensuring a wide range of perspectives and experiences were captured. There was a total number of 112 completed survey responses throughout the consultation period. However, it is important to note that 4 participants skipped the question “Are you completing this survey as a community member or service provider,” which brings the total number of respondents who answered this this question to 108. A notable percentage of survey respondents identified solely as Aboriginal, reflecting the consultation's focus on First Nations experiences and perspectives. This demographic representation was crucial in understanding the unique challenges faced by First Nations communities. The survey aimed to ensure that all voices were heard and that lived experiences was central to the data analysis. 1 The NHLF is a partnership of 15 national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations. With expertise across health, aged care and disability policy, service delivery, workforce, research, healing, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. The NHLF purpose is to drive systemic and structural transformation of mainstream government systems. An Anti-Racism Framework: Voices of First Nations Peoples Page 27