Let’s talk racism: A conversation guide

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a conversation guide about racism, to coincide with the world premiere of The Final Quarter documentary about AFL legend and former Australian of the Year Adam Goodes.

Let’s talk race: A guide on how to conduct conversations about racism has been designed to complement the powerful documentary about the treatment of Adam Goodes in the final three years of his playing career.

The Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan said the film brings home the very real impacts of racism.

“I thought I knew the story about Adam Goodes, about his suffering, his pain and humiliation, but in watching the documentary, The Final Quarter, I felt it.

“This film offers Australia an opportunity to have the tough, but much needed conversation about racism.

“For many people, talking about racism can be difficult. Many of us feel like we don’t know how to start the conversation or we’re afraid to say the wrong thing.

“We hope this guide will help people navigate their way through meaningful and productive discussions, to not only identify racism, but to build strategies to change behaviours,” Commissioner Tan said.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO said The Final Quarter is powerful and confronting and shows how deeply racism can hurt.

“The film holds a mirror to Australia and highlights the painful consequences of racism. It also challenges us to work harder to combat it.

“As a country, we need to talk about what happened to Adam Goodes, one of the country’s greatest sporting heroes. We also need to talk about the fact that there are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who wake up each day and continue to experience racism in this country.

“We need to all find the courage to have the honest conversations about this and to agree, how we as individuals, will not tolerate racism and discrimination.



“We are diminished as a country if we can’t look at The Final Quarter documentary with a sense of sadness and regret and commit to moving forward with a sense of determination about eliminating racism,” Commissioner Oscar said.

The conversation guide is part of comprehensive education resources for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Racism. It Stops with Me campaign and has been produced to be used in workplaces as well as in other organisations such as community groups and sporting clubs.

Media contact: Lindy Kerin 0430 366 529 or lindy.kerin@humanrights.gov.au

Photo: Rohan Thomas, Fairfax.