Recent research has found that racism experienced by non-Anglo-Saxon students at school may result in lower mental and physical health outcomes, as well as lower educational engagement, performance and aspirations. A study by Dr Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews and Professor Rhonda Craven, presented to the Australian Council for Educational Research Conference 2014, has found that the racism experienced by Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders, Asian and Middle Eastern (non-Anglo-Saxon) students is still leading to lower education and health outcomes.

In a study of over 563 high school students, over half of non-Anglo-Saxon respondents reported instances where they experienced racism. These statistics are important because the study finds that racism impacts on students in diverse ways, leading to inequitable outcomes. The study went on to explore how these experiences affected people later in life. Some quotes from participants include:

• 'As a victim of racism, I had automatically assumed that every non-indigenous person was automatically better than me' (a Senior Lecturer);
• 'After my mum died, [my headmistress] sent a letter to my father saying I may as well leave school' (an Indigenous Elder); and
• 'The best advice I can give is count to 10 and take a big breath before you response, because your response is going to be important for the rest of your life' (a Member of Parliament).

Although these particular findings about the impact of racism are not surprising, it is still surprising that across Australia, there are such varied requirements for anti-bullying policies. In the ACT, for instance, non-government schools are required to have policies which specifically address the welfare needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. In Tasmania, non-government school registration standards contain only a statement that school employees should assist in preventing student bullying as part of the employee code of conduct. These standards vary, despite there being a National Framework in place to address student welfare in schools.

In Australia, all schools have a duty of care to protect students from harm. This includes a duty to protect from the mental harm associated with bullying and racism, and it applies whether it is a government school or non-government school. The quality of your children's education, and their right to be protected from racism, should not depend on which state you are in.

With statistics and research like this still being presented, isn't it time for a nationally consistent approach across all schools to protect students from racism and bullying?