Historic Barriers

Australia has a long history of systemic racism, going back to the White Australia policy and before. The White Australia policy was only dismantled in 1966 with the Holt Government’s introduction of the Migration Act 1966 and officially ended with the Whitlam Government implementing the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975. Historically, people from non-English speaking countries who immigrated to Australia were not given the same rights or consideration as those who immigrated from English-speaking countries.

In the Bendigo and Goldfields region, early migration of Chinese gold miners in the 1850s was met with racial resentment, leading to restrictive immigration policies. Bendigo is now home to many of the descendents of those first Chinese immigrants.

Since the implementation of the Migration Act in 1966, Australia has welcomed migration from all nations, making Australia one of the most multi-cultural in the world. In recent times there has been a rise in nationalism and a push to exclude people from Muslim countries in particular. Arena stands against discrimination on the basis of race or religion. Our community of families and schools include children from all racial and religious backgrounds and we are committed to ensuring cultural safety for all children.

Arena stands against discrimination on the basis of race or religion. Our community of families and schools include children from all racial and religious backgrounds and we are committed to ensuring cultural safety for all children.