In 2020 the Inner West Council committed to celebrating the 21st of March as it was originally intended – the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to allow and encourage honest and open conversations about racism. In late 2020, Inner West Councillors endorsed the Racism Not Welcome Campaign, Inner West Multicultural Network endorsed the instalment of 40 Racism Not Welcome street signs across the Inner West LGA. A campaign that garnered support across all of Australia with many Local Councils and educational institutions installing signs in their areas.
Since this time Council and the community have been on a journey, together, to learn and listen about the lived experiences of racism, the nature of racism and its impacts.
As a result of community consultations, Inner West Council adopted its first Anti-Racism Strategy in 2024. This Strategy will further empower the community to identify, address and respond to racism. It will also strengthen the role and responsibility local government has in addressing racial discrimination head on.
Our journey
- Racism Not Welcome signs across the Inner West LGA
- Commitment for Council to recognise 21st March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, not Harmony Day, via a Mayoral minute.
- Our Voices, Our Stories, Not Silenced! Podcast Series
- Anti-Racism Community Forum
- IWC spoke to community members who have experienced racism to share their stories. This resulted in a video series called The Power of Conversation: Stories of Racism from the Community
IWC Anti-Racism Event Our Voices, Our Stories, Not Silenced! Curated by Kween G, funded by Inner West Council
First International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expression of interest launched.
Anti-Racism Strategy adopted
- Implementation of Anti-Racism Action Plan initiatives such as:
Purpose of the Anti-Racism Strategy
To ensure the lived experience of the people of the Inner West is reflected in its development.
This lived experience includes that of Indigenous peoples and other negatively racialised people and also includes culturally and linguistically diverse communities who might not have lived experience of racism.