Hi everyone,

Thanks to the pressure we created through this campaign, we caught the attention of the NSW Education Minister. I’m disappointed by what she had to say, but I’m glad the campaign is pushing people in power to respond - and it wouldn’t be possible without your support.

The letter outlined the anti-racist laws already in place in NSW schools and in doing so depreciates the experiences of discrimination that so many of us are facing:

“Please be assured that the NSW Department of Education rejects all forms of racism. It is committed to the elimination of racial discrimination in public schools – including direct and indirect racism, racial vilification and harassment – in all aspects of the learning and working Environment. Its schools have trained anti-racism contact officers and provide timely and professional responses to complaints regarding racism.”

I’m aware of these anti-discriminatory policies but they failed to protect me and continue to fail many others like me. Racism isn’t always overt vilification or harassment; it can be institutionalised under the disguise of grooming codes. The letter also passed the buck to the NSW Attorney-General, saying this was an issue for him. 

I hope Sarah Mitchell and the NSW Attorney-General, Mark Speakman, understand that if young people in schools experience discrimination, it’s on all of us.  My hope is they will work together and make our schools more inclusive.

For that to happen, we need to make more noise. Are you a culturally diverse person who is facing/ has faced discrimination because of restrictive uniform policies and are willing to speak publicly about the need for change? Please contact hairdiscriminationpetition@gmail.com if you are. We need more voices and stories to help expand this campaign. 

For everyone else, please keep sharing this petition.

Thank you