The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Abstract

Racism. No way! is an initiative of all Australian education systems and represents a national first in assessing the extent of racism in Australian schools and providing a consistent approach across the nation for challenging it. The Racism. No way! project aims to assist schools communities and education systems to recognise racism and address racism in the learning environment.

The Racism. No way! project is based on the premise that racism is a complex phenomenon that is manifested in many different ways and that anti-racism strategies will only be successful when there is greater understanding of Australia's history and its cultural and linguistic diversity. With this understanding must come acceptance of a shared responsibility to create a society free of racism and discrimination.

Schools play a vital role in preparing children and young people for responsible citizenship and effective participation in Australian society. They are uniquely placed to contribute to the development of a society free from racism.

The Racism. No way! project consists of research into the nature and extent of racism in Australian schools, resources for schools and includes a website.

This workshop will outline details of the project, including the Racism. No way! website and provide participants with information of the range of practical anti-racism strategies developed for use in classrooms, whole school programs and by all members of the school community.

Bionotes

After training as a teacher of ancient history and working in a number of secondary schools in Australia, Hanya's career has broadened to encompass educational administration and consultancy in the areas of access, equity, cultural and productive diversity practices and procedures.

Hanya is currently the Manager of Multicultural Programs with the NSW Department of Education and Training. She has program responsibility for ESL education, anti-racism education, multicultural education, ethnic communications and vocational education and training programs for clients from language backgrounds other than English enrolled in government schools and colleges of TAFE.

Her leadership and expertise in the area of anti-racism education was acknowledged in 1995 when her work, the Whole School Anti-racism Project Resource Materials received the Australian Human Rights Medal Award. Since that time she has gone on to receive numerous awards for her work in the areas of educational service delivery and social justice.

In 1997 and 1998 she received commendations in the NSW Premier's Public Sector Awards. Her expertise in community relations and multicultural marketing were highlighted in 1998 when the Public Relations Institute of Australia named her Australian Corporate Communicator of the Year. In 1999 she received a special award for her contribution to the field of multicultural marketing in the National Multicultural Marketing Awards.

Hanya is currently the recipient of a number of Australian Research Council grants for her research with Australian universities into the use of drama techniques with school aged students to address cross cultural tensions and work in the area of scaffolding of language learning for second phase ESL learners.

Hanya is currently appointed to a number of committees and boards including the NSW Interdepartmental Committee on Migrant Settlement, the Board of Carnivale Ltd and the National Anti-racism in Education taskforce. Hanya is one of the writers of Racism. No Way! A Guide for Australian Schools and Racism. No Way! website materials.

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Shane Williams works for the Department of Education in Queensland, Australia and is Director of Student Services.

Shane's branch has statewide responsibility for providing the leadership, strategic policy advice and direction which promotes social, cultural and linguistic inclusion, and improved educational outcomes for all students, particularly those at risk of not completing twelve years of schooling or its equivalent.

Shane's career in education includes having worked within primary, secondary and further education sectors within Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.

In recent years Shane's career has focussed specifically in the area of educational leadership, as well as research, policy and advice on issues for students at educational risk, specific to the development and implementation of major curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and reporting programs within school education.

At a state level Shane led the development and implementation of a systemic planning and accountability framework for students at educational risk, and a strategy for the continuous improvement of education and employment outcomes for indigenous peoples within Education Queensland.

At the national level Shane led the development of national frameworks for "Anti-bullying, harassment and violence in Australian schools" and "Improving English literacy outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners".

He is also an educational equity adviser to the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER), and a member of national taskforces for "Racism in Schools" and the "Education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples".

Presentation Type
60 min. Workshop

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Overhead Projector and Data Projector

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Australia