Around the world, governments in liberal democracies are increasingly worried by the decline of public trust. The question that is often asked is why individuals and communities have declining trust in government institutions. However, the reverse question – whether governments trust communities, and if not, why not – is far less frequently explored. A relationship of trust involves one party trusting another, and that trust being returned. One key quality of trust is therefore reciprocity. For a successful trust relationship to be created and maintained it must be reciprocal. Trust must flow both ways – not just from communities to government but from government to communities.

This Report examines trust relationships between government and communities that play a role in developing resilience to social harms. The particular focus is on the areas of disaster recovery, emergency response and dealing with violent extremism, and the ways in which government officials implement related programs and policies. The aim of the project is to support government officials and community leaders and members in creating and sustaining the trusting relationships that are needed to deliver these types of resilience building programs.

When given access to resources and support young people can rely on technology for work, education, socialising and health. For instance, technology enables online job interviews, virtual classrooms, connectivity to online support groups, and telehealth appointments. However, young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds have faced digital inclusion challenges, highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

This research investigated and identified the factors that can enhance digital participation amongst refugee and migrant background youth in Victoria, Australia. We have a diverse team of researchers and community partners collaborating with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and together will propose strategies to enhance participation in the digital world.

When given access to resources and support young people can rely on technology for work, education, socialising and health. For instance, technology enables online job interviews, virtual classrooms, connectivity to online support groups, and telehealth appointments. However, young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds have faced digital inclusion challenges, highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

This research investigated and identified the factors that can enhance digital participation amongst refugee and migrant background youth in Victoria, Australia. We have a diverse team of researchers and community partners collaborating with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and together will propose strategies to enhance participation in the digital world.

An analysis of Twitter content from Victoria in 2020 found low levels of racial vilification if Asians. This surprising low level of public online racism is consistent with reanalysis of survey data. Racism directed against Asian Australians and others is an ongoing source of harm. There is not, however, good reasons to believe that hatred of Asians was successfully mobilized and exacerbated in Victoria in 2020 by mass online means. Racism needs to be confronted wherever it occurs, but the uncritical acceptance of media narratives is unlikely to help the cause of confronting it.

The research addresses the relatively neglected subject of anti-racism in Australia. The research maps the frequencies and forms of everyday anti-racism and prosocial attitudes and interaction in Victoria; identifies the factors and social variations that underlie everyday action; and explores transversal enabler practices quantitatively, including their prevalence.

Kevin Dunn, Jehonathan Ben, Rachel Sharples, Nida Denson, Amanuel Elias, Fethi Mansouri, Craig McGarty, Yin Paradies, Oznur Sahin

The research addresses the relatively neglected subject of anti-racism in Australia. The research maps the frequencies and forms of everyday anti-racism and prosocial attitudes and interaction in Victoria; identifies the factors and social variations that underlie everyday action; and explores transversal enabler practices quantitatively, including their prevalence.

Our findings highlight five key areas that are significant for furthering anti-racism action.

Kevin Dunn, Jehonathan Ben, Rachel Sharples, Nida Denson, Amanuel Elias, Fethi Mansouri, Craig McGarty, Yin Paradies, Oznur Sahin

This Issues Paper examines the use of creative arts as a participation strategy to engage young people in practices that support mental health and wellbeing. In wake of COVID-19 and concurrent crises the Resonant Voices research project, an arts-based participatory action research project, demonstrated the important role that creativity and artistic media play in individual and collective recovery for young people.

This research report summarises the key findings from the VicHealth funded project: Enhancing Digital Participation amongst Refugee and Migrant Background Youth. It makes recommendations for action that can be taken by stakeholders to enhance digital participation amongst young people of refugee and migrant background in the domains of education, employment, health and wellbeing, and civic and social connection.

Anita Harris, Kim Lam, Amanda Third, Phillipa Colin, Sherene Idriss, Soo-Lin Quek, Edmee Kenny, Louisa Wellend, David Cao, Komal Grewal, Alexandra Lee, Michelle Lim, Hiruni Walimungie

This report was produced as part of the project ‘The role of mainstream media in the mobilisation of radical political movements’ funded through the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS). This paper aims to identify key journalistic challenges and discussing practical factors that media professionals are encouraged to consider when making a decision about whether to report about far-right incidents and, if so, how.

Mario Peucker

This research report has been conducted by an NGO called Love Frankie and funded by USAID and contains insightful new research (English and Bahasa) from Love Frankie with USAID on Indonesian youth resilience to violent extremism featuring the BRAVE measure.

Michele Grossman (lead), Greg Barton, Dr Vivian Gerrand, and Michael Ungar (a CRIS Consortium partner).

This issues paper introduces the Working with Men and Boys for Social Justice Assessment Tool.

Amanda Keddie, Michael Flood, Shelley Hewson-Munro, Maria Delaney and Anna Halafoff

This article draws attention to this and argues for re-imagining anti-racism as a core organisational value. We critically evaluate current anti-racism practices, and call for broader, holistic, committed and well-funded anti-racism approaches within organisations.

Amanuel Elias, Jehonathan Ben and Kiros Hiruy.

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (the Academy) welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Queensland Government (the government) on the development of a new Queensland Youth Strategy (the new Strategy).

Prof Anita Harris and A/ Prof Philippa Collin.

This report presents bias indicators for the Australian context and discusses their concept, uses, benefits and risks. The bias indicators we present are the result of extensive consultations with local experts including academics and practitioners working in law enforcement agencies, government and non-government organisations and community organisations. We aimed to make sure that the list would be practical and relevant to practitioners working in the fields of hate crime and hate speech.

Matteo Vergani, Angelique Stefanopoulos, Alexandra Lee, Haily Tran, Imogen Richards, Dan Goodhardt, Greg Barton

This report presents findings of a national survey of over 1300 Australians conducted in November 2020 examining well-being and resilience within the COVID-19 pandemic context. The research project looked at the factors that promoted or hindered well-being and resilience during the pandemic, and what we can learn for future crises.

Nida Denson, Kevin Dunn, Jehonathan Ben, Alanna Kamp, Rachel Sharples, Daniel Pitman, Yin Paradies, Craig McGarty

The CRIS submission to the Inquiry into Extremism in Victoria.

You can read a CRIS Commentary about our submission here, the inquiry’s full committee report here, and other submissions on the Committee website.

Our research looked at the ways that far-right social media users use mainstream media outlets for their ideological messages. Researchers analysed over 55,000 social media posts from far-right users on Facebook and Gab, and found that all mainstream media outlets, regardless of their political leaning, can be co-opted for ideological messaging.

Mario Peucker, Thomas J. Fisher, Jacob Davey

We report on a stocktake review of racism data collected nationally in Australia and with a specific focus on Victoria. We provide a comprehensive overview, summary and synthesis of quantitative data on racism, identify gaps in racism data collection, analysis and uses, and make recommendations on bridging those data gaps and informing anti-racism action and policy.

Jehonathan Ben, Amanuel Elias, Rachel Sharples, Kevin Dunn, Craig McGarty, Mandy Truong, Fethi Mansouri, Nida Denson, Jessica Walton and Yin Paradies

This briefing paper is the fourth and final output in ‘Symbiotic Radicalisation’, a project in our ‘Dynamics of Violent Extremism’ research stream. Symbiotic Radicalisation is a collaboration between researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and the Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities at Victoria University (VU). This paper provides an overview of key trends identified throughout this research program, which examines the online interplay between the far-left and far-right in Australia (with a focus on the State of Victoria) and considers the policy implications of this work.

We report on a stocktake review of racism data collected nationally in Australia and with a specific focus on Victoria. We provide a comprehensive overview, summary and synthesis of quantitative data on racism, identify gaps in racism data collection, analysis and uses, and make recommendations on bridging those data gaps and informing anti-racism action and policy.

Based on the review, we identified eight gaps to racism data collection and analysis and to collection methodologies. We recommend four interconnected ways to fill racism data gaps for anti-racism researchers, organisations and policymakers: 1) Further analyse existing data to address critical questions about racism; 2) Collect and analyse additional data; 3) Enhance data availability and integration; and 4) Improve policies that relate to the collection, analysis, reporting and overall management of racism data.

Jehonathan Ben, Amanuel Elias, Rachel Sharples, Kevin Dunn, Craig McGarty, Mandy Truong, Fethi Mansouri, Nida Denson, Jessica Walton and Yin Paradies

Between 13 November 2020 and 11 February 2021, an online national survey of 2003 Asian Australians was conducted to measure the type and frequency of self-identified Asian Australians’ experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also aimed to gauge the relationships between racist experiences and targets’ mental health, wellbeing and sense of belonging. In this paper, we report findings on the type and frequency of online racist experiences and their associations with mental health, wellbeing and belonging.

Alanna Kamp, Nida Denson, Rachel Sharples and Rosalie Atie

https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11050227

Our research looked at Asian Australians’ experiences of racism before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how these experiences are associated with their mental health, wellbeing and feelings of belonging. We analysed how targets and witnesses respond to racist incidents, and whether they report these incidents. This document contains our recommendations for policymakers.

Alanna Kamp, Nida Denson, Rosalie Atie, Kevin Dunn, Rachel Sharples, Matteo Vergani, Jessica Walton, Susan Sisko

This report is the first phase of a two-phase action research project titled Building Activist Capacities of Young People Through Issue-based Campaigns.

The report explores key social issues facing young people aged 16 to 25 in Victoria, Australia, and examines how they respond to these issues. This study aims to better understand young people’s experiences of voice, the contexts and conditions in which they can cultivate their voices for social change, and where their voices resonate.

Read the full report here.

Read the summary and key findings here.

Alison Baker, Lutfiye Ali

This report has been designed using images from Freepik.com.

Social Cohesion and Participation in a Digital Age for Diverse Young Australians: A Summary of Key Findings

Read the summary here.

Read the full report here.

Anita Harris, Kim Lam and Michael Hartup, with Philippa Collin, Amanda Third and Soo-Lin Quek

Social Issues and Diverse Young Australians: A Summary of Key Challenges and Young People’s Concerns

Read the summary here.

Read the full report here.

Kim Lam, Anita Harris and Michael Hartup, with Philippa Collin, Amanda Third and Soo-Lin Quek

This study will provide a novel and comprehensive synthesis of the quantitative evidence base on racism in Australia. It will answer questions about the fluctuation of racism over time, its variation across settings and groups, and its relationship with health and socio-economic outcomes. Findings will be discussed in relation to broader debates in this growing field of research and will be widely disseminated to inform anti-racism research, action and policy nationally.

Jehonathan Ben, Amanuel Elias, Ayuba Issaka, Mandy Truong, Kevin Dunn, Rachel Sharples, Craig McGarty, Jessica Walton, Fethi Mansouri, Nida Denson and Yin Paradies

Since the 1980's, gaming, gamers, and gaming platforms have been criticised for promoting violence, addiction, social isolation and 'toxic geek masculinity'. However, our research paints a different picture. It shows that gaming and esports can improve wellbeing, social networks, community building and soft skills for young people.

Chris Zomer, Liam Magee, Amanda Third

This paper is the third in a series analysing the interplay between far-right and far-left groups in the state of Victoria, Australia, across a range of social media platforms. It provides an analysis of over 400,000 tweets produced by a sample of 151 far-left and 75 far-right Australian Twitter accounts since 2016.

This paper was updated in March 2022.

Cécile Simmons, Joshua Farrell-Molloy, Jacob Davey, Mario Peucker

This report examines Asian Australians’ experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comprising over 2,000 participants, this is the largest empirical study to date of Asian Australian experiences of racism in the COVID-19 context.

This report was updated in March 2022.

Alanna Kamp, Nida Denson, Rosalie Atie, Kevin Dunn, Rachel Sharples, Matteo Vergani, Jessica Walton, Susan Sisko

This paper is the second in a series analysing the interplay between far-right and far-left groups in the state of Victoria, Australia, across a range of social media platforms. It provides an analysis of over 45,000 posts by a network of 40 active Gab accounts between January and September 2020.

Cécile Guerin, Jacob Davey, Dr Mario Peucker and Thomas J. Fisher

This paper is the first in a series analysing the interplay between far-right and far-left groups in the state of Victoria, Australia, across a range of social media platforms.

Cécile Guerin, Jacob Davey, Mario Peucker and Thomas J. Fisher

This report provides important evidence for all stakeholders involved in tackling hate in Victoria, including policy makers, law enforcement agencies and community organisations, to better understand how to address community reporting barriers.

Dr Matteo Vergani & Dr Carolina Navarro

This report is a first in Australia to make sense of the exceptional fragmentation and lack of coordination of responses to hate crimes, hate speech and hate incidents across the country

Dr Matteo Vergani & Rouven Link

Dr Mario Peucker

This CRIS submission to the Department of Justice and Community Safety is referenced at many points in the Review of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act. You can access the CRIS Submission here and read more about the review, including other submissions, on the Engage Victoria website.

Mark Duckworth, Professor Michele Grossman

In May 2021, CRIS and AVERT members Professor Michele Grossman, Mark Duckworth, Lydia Khalil, Dr Joshua Roose and Dr Mario Peucker appeared as expert witnesses at the public hearings held in Canberra for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalism in Australia.

Professor Michele Grossman, Mark Duckworth, Professor Greg Barton, Dr Vivian Gerrand, Dr Matteo Vergani, Dr Mario Peucker, Professor Hass Dellal and Jacob Davey

This paper points to a number of areas where racism data remain under-collected, including gaps that should be filled as a matter of urgency in the context of COVID-19.

Jehonathan Ben, Amanuel Elias, Mandy Truong, Fethi Mansouri, Nida Denson, Yin Paradies

This paper addresses current barriers and opportunities regarding the digital practices of CALD young people from refugee, migrant and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and offer recommendations on supporting civic participation, especially in a post COVID world.

Kim Lam, Anita Harris

This brief provides contemporary empirical insights into the extent of Islamophobia in Victoria, and how it is manifest, in order the help develop policy responses.

Kevin Dunn, Rachel Sharples, Fethi Mansouri, Yin Paradies, Matteo Vergani, Craig McGarty and Amanuel Elias