NEWS
campusreview.com.au
Stop the spread
Rise in COVID-19 racism sparks call to
protect children from its harmful effects.
By Wade Zaglas
E
xperts say immediate attention is needed to protect children
from the harms of rising racism during and after the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The call comes after a series of recommendations to counter
racism and improve child wellbeing were published by several
authors in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).
The authors of the article say Asian-Australians – both adults and
children – are being racially targeted due to the pandemic.
In addition, although the COVID-19 pandemic has put the issue
of racism towards people of Asian descent front and centre, the
article makes clear that racism is always around, can affect any
race, and can have long-lasting health effects.
The lead author of the study, Associate Professor Naomi Priest,
from the Australia National University, says “health responses” are
often overlooked despite racism being common and pernicious for
many children and families.
“There are many children in our community who experience the
harmful health effects of racism, and this is even more pressing
during this pandemic,” she says.
“Strong epidemiological evidence shows racism is associated
with increased child and adolescent depression, anxiety, suicide
risk, behaviour difficulties, as well as with chronic disease markers
such as inflammation, blood pressure and obesity risk.”
Interestingly, Priest adds that the negative health effects of racism
are not limited to direct experiences.
“As with second-hand smoking, second-hand exposure to racism
also harms children’s mental and physical health,” she says.
“Racism must be seen as a core issue for child health – now
more than ever.”
Priest says that second-hand exposure includes children
witnessing racism aimed at their peers, caregivers and families, as
6
well as hearing in the media and online about racism towards their
communities and other marginalised groups.
The MJA paper outlines five recommendations aimed at
addressing “the impacts of racism on child health for the pandemic
and beyond”.
“All healthcare professionals need to be able to discuss
racism and its effects and to be able to support children
and families, especially important during times of crisis and
increased stress when overt racism is even higher than usual,”
Priest says.
“Data about experiences and impacts of COVID-19 must include
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, and those
from ethnic minorities. It must also include data on racism and
discrimination wherever possible.”
Roxanne Jones, a co-author of the article and Palawa woman,
paediatric nurse and PhD student, said: “We need to ensure all
children and families know they are welcome in healthcare settings
and will be treated with respect and care, regardless of their
backgrounds.”
The article’s authors also highlight the importance of supporting
communities “to address inequities” as well partnering with a wide
range of groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
healthcare workers and communities, community cultural groups
and workers from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The acting minister for immigration, Alan Tudge, recently urged
Australians to call out racist attacks, and said the recent vandalism
of a Chinese-Australian home in his Melbourne electorate was a
“disgraceful” and “cowardly” act. However, he added that 99 per
cent of Australians did not hold such racist views.
Meanwhile, the ACT’s discrimination commissioner, Karen
Toohey, said reports to the ACT Human Rights Commission
of racist incidents had increased in March, including against
healthcare workers and retail staff. And Victorian Multicultural
Commission chair Vivienne Nguyen recently told the ABC there
was “no doubt that there is a significant increase in incidents of
racism against the Asian community”. ■