Case study 1:
Community response to the National Anti-Racism Framework, Consultation with Multicultural Queensland,
Cairns, May 2021
Multicultural Affairs Queensland and the Commission partnered to undertake a consultation in the vibrant,
multicultural city of Cairns in May 2021. Drawing from the cultural diversity of the Cairns community, the consultation
brought together representatives from 19 community groups, organisations and service providers, representing
culturally diverse cohorts, over an in-depth discussion of the Framework principles, outcomes, and strategies.
Members of the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Committee facilitated the session.
Feedback from the consultation showed that participants felt that the Framework’s outcomes and strategies were
‘common ground … creating opportunities to come together to understand “why” and support resolution’. Participant
reflections on the value of the Framework were noted, for example:
[It] gives knowledge of processes and rights, and could help community members to realise and feel that
you belong in Australia.
Participant feedback, consultation record
The participants identified key priorities for the Framework to encompass, including support for targets through clear
and effective reporting processes, education on racism, guidelines for media reporting, measurable national outcomes
such as quotas and positive discrimination targets, and better data collection. In May, a joint report from the event was
published so that stakeholders can see and share the results of their contribution.
Participants provided crucial feedback on ensuring the consultation process includes and engages communities,
which will shape the Framework development process.
What’s Age Got to Do With It?
In this reporting period, Commissioner Patterson commissioned multiphase research exploring current
age-based stereotypes and intergenerational connections across the lifespan and through life roles, in
order to demonstrate their accuracy or otherwise, and to highlight the effect of ageist attitudes through
real-world scenarios such as elder abuse.
The rationale was to investigate age-based social attitudes for both younger and older adult cohorts
through a human rights lens, to explore the gap in research about the experience of younger adults, and
to contribute to understanding how ageism affects generations across the lifespan.
The research has been completed, and the report, What’s age got to do with it?, will be released in the
second half of 2021.
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Australian Human Rights Commission
Annual Report 2020–2021