MEDIA RELEASE: NEW DATA REVEALS TWO IN THREE WORKERS REPORTED RACISM ON THE JOB
Date: 09/07/2026
A new survey reveals most Australians see racism in the workplace but most organisations fail to treat it as a serious workplace safety issue, according to Australia's peak body for workplace health and safety.
The Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS) 2026 member survey found two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents had either experienced or witnessed racism at work. Almost half (44 per cent) said racism is rarely or never recognised as a workplace health and safety issue in their organisation.
The AIHS has released a Position Statement: Understanding Racism as a Workplace Health and Safety Issue and warns employers, regulators and policymakers they must recognise the harm it can cause to workers' health, wellbeing and sense of safety.
AIHS Chair Celia Antonovsky said there was a troubling gap between what workers are experiencing and how Australian workplaces are responding.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected at work, but for many people, that is not their reality," Ms Antonovsky said.
"Whether people experience racism themselves or see it happening to others, it can take a toll on both their mental and physical health. It can also hold those back in their careers and limit opportunities, which often has a ripple effect on their families and communities."
"The AIHS is concerned racism is often treated as a personal issue rather than something employers have a responsibility to prevent. Organisations that allow racial discrimination without taking action are not only exposing workers to harm but are failing to meet legal obligations."
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission data shows almost half of race discrimination complaints received in 2023 were workplace related.
The AIHS survey found strong support for change, with 79 per cent of respondents saying racism should be addressed through workplace safety systems. However, only eight per cent said their organisation currently manages workplace racism through workplace health and safety processes.
"You can't create a genuinely safe workplace if people don't feel comfortable speaking up or fear being treated differently because of who they are," Ms Antonovsky said.
"Preventing racism is not just about responding when something goes wrong. It's about creating workplace cultures where respect, inclusion and psychological safety are part of everyday practice."
As part of the Position Statement, the AIHS is calling for:
- Clear guidance for employers recognising and managing racism as a psychosocial hazard
- Stronger leadership accountability and training to help prevent and address racism
- Better reporting processes and greater consultation with workers
- Amending work health and safety laws to explicitly recognise racism as a hazard employers must manage, with any new anti-discrimination duty clearly linked to this existing safety obligation
- A national survey to better understand how common workplace racism is across Australia
AIHS is encouraging workers and workplace safety professionals to share their experiences of workplace racism to strengthen evidence and support future reform efforts.
"Every worker deserves to feel safe, respected and included at work. Recognising racism as a workplace health and safety issue is a critical step towards making that a reality," Ms Antonovsky said.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
AIHS Contact: Rebecca Turnbull
Tel: (03) 8336 1995
Email: [email protected]
About the AIHS: With a 77-year history, the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) is the peak body representing workplace health and safety professionals, with a vision for safe and healthy people in productive workplaces and communities. The AIHS works with industry, government, regulators, unions, and experts to improve regulation, policy, safety standards and training.