30 NSW, ACT, Vic, NSW, SA, WA NSW NSW, Vic Vic SA ACT Vic 64 NT Tas NSW QLD NSW, WA, QLD NSW Vic NSW WA Vic 1 104 10 8 28 20 21 20 21 13 3 43 8 3 3 1 3 1 1 213 50 21 41 8 8 146 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 48 11 1 29 45 10 3 26 9 21 47 3 15 2 13 2 14 8 7 5 2 12 17 121 5 10 6 7 8 2 13 9 5 2 28 15 24 6 9 19 5 10 13 3 13 2 18 1 2 6 2 4 8 11 4 15 1 prefer not to say different term Non- binary cis men trans women 8 In addition to the consultations, an online survey was distributed. Once the consultations were complete, the community organisations prepared reports for FECCA on the consultation findings, with no identification of participants. Community organisations were also responsible for circulating the report amongst participants for feedback and incorporating any comments. Transcripts were not mandatory. 32 Consultations consisted of group consultations, organised and hosted by community organisations and held either online or face-to-face. 7 Consultation mode Post consultations 13 communities with prominent caste systems 6 • 31 new and emerging communities 5 people and communities of faith • 13 people with disability • 4 • 15 older people 3 young people • 5 LGBTQIA+ multicultural groups • 5 • 1 women 13 refugees and asylum seekers • Consultations were undertaken between November 2023 and May 2024. At least one staff member from FECCA was present at the majority of the consultations and was responsible for addressing any questions from community members that were related to the project. Community organisations provided the explanatory note, and were responsible for the consent forms, including for the use of anonymous quotes and photographs at the start of the consultation. Participants received a small payment for their participation and time. They also received the list of support services and once the survey was ready. 2 • • 3 Implementation of consultations 6 The consultations were designed to ensure a wide spectrum of participation across locations. Consistent with the Commission’s scoping report, nine groups were identified as those more likely to face overlapping forms of discrimination. These groups were as follows: A discussion guide outlining three key questions to drive the consultations: (i) defining racism, (ii) how to address racism, (iii) and steps to prevent racism. 17 • 15 Group selection 43 A list of support services available for consultation participants; and 1 An explanatory note on the project • Community-led, recognising the importance of trusting relationships and more direct connections to communities to conduct this type of work. cis women • • State FECCA developed the materials to be used during consultations, and the evaluation panel and Jeder Institute reviewed them. These included: 55+ Intersectional lens, recognising overlapping forms and systems of discrimination that are associated with a range of individual and community characteristics, and which require a more nuanced understanding of how racism is experienced together with other forms of discrimination. 45 - 54 • 35 - 44 Strength-based, centring the diverse knowledge of people with lived experience of racism in the definition, understanding, and identification of recommendations to address racism. FECCA also partnered with Jeder Institute to provide training for the facilitators from the selected community organisations on how to conduct trauma-informed consultations. The training involved understanding traumainformed care, recognising the impact of trauma, creating safe spaces for consultations, empathetic communication in consultations, incorporating trauma-informed practices, and implementing self-care strategies. 25 – 34 • A total of 18 organisations were selected to run the community consultations, covering all states and territories and the nine intersectional considerations identified in the Commission’s scoping report. 18 - 24 Trauma-informed, recognising the need to ensure safe spaces for individuals to share and to exercise choice throughout the consultations, as well as the importance of validation of their experiences and acknowledgment of their strengths and views. Gender • An evaluation panel, comprising of three representatives from FECCA, one representative from the Commission, and one representative from the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MMIC), assessed the proposals. Participant profile FECCA outlined the following guiding principles for the consultations: In 2023, FECCA undertook an open, competitive small grant process to allow interested organisations to submit a proposal to run the consultations. This included conducting community engagement and recruiting participants from their communities, hosting the consultations, facilitating and delivering the consultation report upon completion. The call for proposals was distributed on FECCA’s social media platforms and electronic direct mailing. No. of Principles Preparation phase Organisation The consultation process was undertaken to ensure that the lived experiences, views, perspectives, insights, and expertise of multicultural communities, in all their diversity, are centered to support the development of the national anti-racism framework. The consultation process Table 1: List of consultations, including demographic groups and geographic reach Attachment A: The Community Consultation Process An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and Perspectives of Multicultural Australia NSW, Vic, QLD, SA An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and Perspectives of Multicultural Australia 31