Education leaders have backed plans to take the fight against anti-Semitism into schools, universities and child care centres.
Former University of NSW chancellor and Jewish business leader David Gonski has been appointed head of the Albanese Government’s anti-Semitism education taskforce.
The taskforce will review the national curriculum to identify ways to prevent anti-Semitic thought and actions and provide teachers with free resources.
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Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the taskforce would convene its first meeting on Friday.
“We need to make sure our children are learning about the evils of anti-Semitism and the horrors of the Holocaust,” Mr Clare said.
“Children aren’t born with hate in their hearts. This is something that’s taught, this is something that’s learned.
“And we need our universities to do better to stamp out anti-Semitism. The fact is, Jewish students have been made to feel unwelcome on campus.”
New figures from the National Student Ombudsman show the service received 23 complaints related to anti-Semitism in universities since it started in February, with six still to be resolved.
Outcomes for the 17 resolved complaints included apologies from higher education providers and improvements to course content and training.
Perth MP Patrick Gorman, whose electorate takes in the majority of WA’s Jewish community, said the taskforce was needed to ensure schools and universities were safe.
“Some of the things we’ve seen on university campuses have disgusted me in recent times,” he said.
“There have been a number of concerns raised about the nature of language used at a camp-out at Curtin University, about how the actions at Curtin University had made Jewish students feel.”
The Group of Eight, which includes the University of WA, commended the taskforce initiative as it revealed it had also this week set up its own expert committee to eradicate anti-Semitism from campuses.
Perth MP Patrick Gorman, whose electorate takes in the majority of WA’s Jewish community, said the taskforce was needed to ensure schools and universities were safe. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
“The horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14, was a brutal reminder of the deadly consequences of hate,” Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson said.
“Over the past two years, universities have been challenged to do better in recognising, preventing and responding to anti-Semitism and hate on our campuses.”
National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins said the taskforce was an important step “to end the scourge of anti-Semitism and hate-based rhetoric and action”.
“We look forward to working with the government and school sectors of all faith traditions to ensure the initiatives identified by the taskforce can be rolled out with the urgency that tragic events such as Sunday and the increasing inertia toward hate and antisemitism demand,” she said.
Independent Schools Australia chief executive Graham Catt said education played a critical role in confronting hatred early, building understanding and strengthening social cohesion.
