Overview

• Australia Palestine Advocacy Network on Friday released its first national register documenting widespread discrimination against students and staff who express Palestinian identity or solidarity in school settings.
• The report analysed 84 testimonies gathered between March and July 2024 from students, parents, teachers and other school community members across the country.
• Accounts detailed verbal and physical abuse and punitive measures, including teachers told to remove keffiyehs, staff questioned over watermelon symbols, students disciplined for Palestinian flags or colours, and a case where a Palestinian flag was taken down for an Israeli flag.
• Researchers described a profound toll on wellbeing and learning, with reports of anxiety and dehumanisation, and said incidents were frequent in New South Wales, which supplied over half the responses.
• The report urges recognition of anti‑Palestinian racism, teacher training and clear policies, while the Australian Human Rights Commission’s race discrimination commissioner called for a coordinated national approach and a review of complaint‑handling; federal education officials have been asked for comment.