New data reveals a concerning rise in the number of racist incidents targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people reported to the Call It Out First Nations Racism Register.
The 2024–25 Call It Out Annual Report shows more than one in four of reports (26%) involved racism directed at children and young people aged 0-19, an increase of 10 percentage points compared to last year.
Almost a third (29%) of incidents occurred on social media, online and in other media, while 11% were in the workplace and 10% in schools and educational settings.
One student reported being called “a fake Aboriginal” by peers. Another said, “Being at that school made me feel so [much] shame. It’s so crazy that I felt and still feel so unwanted in my own country!” A third young person shared, “[Racism] made me feel upset, I didn’t know why people hated me and my culture so much. I was frustrated.”
Other firsthand accounts across the register told of harmful and distressing experiences including racist and derogatory language, dismissive treatment by public services, and physical attacks.
This year’s register also revealed:
- The most commonly identified perpetrators were strangers (26%), employees or workers (25%), and institutions or organisations (20%).
- Racism has been reported in every state and territory, with over half (52%) of incidents identified as systemic.
- 34% of reported racism was aggressive, including hate speech, threats and harassment.
When asked about solutions, respondents pointed to three key areas for change: First Nations Sovereignty, increasing public understanding of First Nations culture and history, and strengthening legal protections and penalties against racism.
The report, titled: “Everywhere I go no matter where, if it’s around non-Indigenous people I feel a hate vibe. It feels like I’m being watched,” is based on 442 validated reports submitted to the Call It Out First Nations Racism Register between 21 March 2024 and 20 March 2025.
Chris Cunneen, Prof. of Criminology at the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research said:
“It’s important to remember that the data really only tells a partial story of the problem of racism and its real and long-lasting impacts. The strength and power of the Call It Out Register is in the brave and compelling written accounts. These talk far more deeply than the numbers and confirm how much more work there is to be done to create a society that is safe for First Nations people.”
George Newhouse, CEO of the National Justice Project said:
“The full extent of racism targeting First Nations people in Australia continues to be downplayed by governments and institutions. But the stories reported to Call It Out make the ongoing legacy of colonial racism hard to ignore. While the register provides a platform for First Nations people to report discrimination, it is also the responsibility of non-Indigenous people to take meaningful action and report racism.”
For more information and to make a report click here.
