Taking a stand against racism and discrimination
Tuesday 16 August 2022
Yarra is committed to creating a community where people feel safe and respected and where diversity is celebrated.
We are a culturally diverse community with 29% of our residents born overseas. Our multiculturalism adds to Yarra’s unique character and makes our city a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
As part of our commitment to diversity, we’re proud to be a part of an alliance of businesses, sporting bodies, non-government organisations and local councils across Australia who support the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign since 2013.
Racism. It Stops With Me is a national anti-racism campaign run by the Australian Human Rights Commission. It’s one of many campaigns and initiatives working to increase awareness of racism and provide tools to address it.
The Australian Human Rights Commission launched a new phase of the campaign last month that calls on Australians who don’t have lived experience of racism to reflect on its causes and do more to challenge it.
Find out more about the campaign
At Yarra, we’re doing our part to ensure accessible and equitable access to services by our multicultural community. These are reflected in our Community Vision and Council Plan 2021-25.
“Theme 1 – Strong and vibrant community: Yarra is a place of accessible opportunities for participation in community life. We share our skills, abilities and knowledge, cultivating a diverse community where everyone can belong.” – Yarra 2036 Community Vision
“Strategic Objective 2 - Social equity and health: Yarra’s people have equitable access and opportunities to participate in community life. They are empowered, safe and included.” – Yarra Council Plan 2021-25
We also support the following programs to help combat systemic racism and keep our diverse community safe.
We Stand Together
The We Stand Together project aims to empower people experiencing racial and religious discrimination or attacks in the community.
The project has produced a wallet-sized card for residents that provides them with information if they are a target of racial or religious discrimination. The card, which is available in 6 languages, provides a guide to making a report to police or an anonymous tip via Crimestoppers.
The card also provides advice on what to do if you’re a bystander to racial or religious discrimination.
This project is a collaboration between:
- Yarra Council
- Carringbush
- Neighbourhood Justice Centre
- cohealth
- Fitzroy Legal Service
- New Hope – Micare
- Victoria Police
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
Download cards here
Community racism reporting tool
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has developed a community reporting tool to make it easier to make a short and confidential report directly to the Commission.
We encourage you to speak out and make a report through this tool if you or someone you know is confronted with racism or discrimination of any kind.
Make a report here
Refugee Welcome Zone
The City of Yarra has been a Refugee Welcome Zone since 2002.
A Refugee Welcome Zone is a local government area that has made a commitment to:
- welcome refugees into the community
- uphold the human rights of refugees
- show compassion\
- enhance cultural and religious diversity in the community.
We value and are committed to promoting:
- cultural, linguistic and religious diversity
- community harmony
- respect for all.
Find out more here
Yarra is committed to creating a community where people feel safe and respected and where diversity is celebrated.
We are a culturally diverse community with 29% of our residents born overseas. Our multiculturalism adds to Yarra’s unique character and makes our city a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
As part of our commitment to diversity, we’re proud to be a part of an alliance of businesses, sporting bodies, non-government organisations and local councils across Australia who support the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign since 2013.
Racism. It Stops With Me is a national anti-racism campaign run by the Australian Human Rights Commission. It’s one of many campaigns and initiatives working to increase awareness of racism and provide tools to address it.
The Australian Human Rights Commission launched a new phase of the campaign last month that calls on Australians who don’t have lived experience of racism to reflect on its causes and do more to challenge it.
Find out more about the campaign
At Yarra, we’re doing our part to ensure accessible and equitable access to services by our multicultural community. These are reflected in our Community Vision and Council Plan 2021-25.
“Theme 1 – Strong and vibrant community: Yarra is a place of accessible opportunities for participation in community life. We share our skills, abilities and knowledge, cultivating a diverse community where everyone can belong.” – Yarra 2036 Community Vision
“Strategic Objective 2 - Social equity and health: Yarra’s people have equitable access and opportunities to participate in community life. They are empowered, safe and included.” – Yarra Council Plan 2021-25
We also support the following programs to help combat systemic racism and keep our diverse community safe.
We Stand Together
The We Stand Together project aims to empower people experiencing racial and religious discrimination or attacks in the community.
The project has produced a wallet-sized card for residents that provides them with information if they are a target of racial or religious discrimination. The card, which is available in 6 languages, provides a guide to making a report to police or an anonymous tip via Crimestoppers.
The card also provides advice on what to do if you’re a bystander to racial or religious discrimination.
This project is a collaboration between:
- Yarra Council
- Carringbush
- Neighbourhood Justice Centre
- cohealth
- Fitzroy Legal Service
- New Hope – Micare
- Victoria Police
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
Download cards here
Community racism reporting tool
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has developed a community reporting tool to make it easier to make a short and confidential report directly to the Commission.
We encourage you to speak out and make a report through this tool if you or someone you know is confronted with racism or discrimination of any kind.
Make a report here
Refugee Welcome Zone
The City of Yarra has been a Refugee Welcome Zone since 2002.
A Refugee Welcome Zone is a local government area that has made a commitment to:
- welcome refugees into the community
- uphold the human rights of refugees
- show compassion\
- enhance cultural and religious diversity in the community.
We value and are committed to promoting:
- cultural, linguistic and religious diversity
- community harmony
- respect for all.
Find out more here
