Racial discrimination in Australia

parsonsjonny · Jul 19, 2007

I faced racial discrimination and bullying while studying nursing in Melbourne, Australia by my clinical teacher and the university staff. It was one of the most horrible experience I have encountered.
How should I report this ?[/qu
I don't live there yet and have not suffered this kind of treatment ever; however I have colleagues that have been in your position. I guess it depends how strongly you feel about it, and how confident you are in dealing with others. If it were me, I would pen a very concise and detailed letter explaining what happened & your concerns, also get some support/witnesses if there were any. Send copies to your personal tutor, the Dean of the university, the offenders direct boss, the local health authority & also the police if you want - I really would push to the absolute limit and advise them that you will be pursueing legal action - then do it. Why should you suffer at the hands of this ignorant person who clearly should not be in their role, let alone nursing, they are clearly an embarressment to their employer and Australia as a whole. You should have a really strong case - just tell the truth, I would have thought that the university would have something to say about it and would support you, after all you are their student whom they accepted onto the course that they run, therefore they have a duty towards you, if they threaten to kick you out, then seek a tribunal hearing.
Just some ideas for you but as I said, you need to be confident or get some union or legal support/representation.
All the best.

xng · Jul 20, 2007

The problem is that I reported the unprofessional conduct of my clinical teacher to the university's nursing teaching staff.

The teaching staff didn't support me but put up unprofessional arguments such as

1. 'Both sides are to blame' without even hearing the details.

2. Why didn't the other students got bad marks ?

There were only one other student beside me. Putting blame on numbers is totally unprofessional. Even if she has 100 students under me, she can discriminate against 1 student if she don't like the student, it doesn't mean she is correct just because of majority numbers game.

3. There is no evidence as it is my words against hers.

Obviously, the university staff is trying to protect the clinical teacher.

parsonsjonny · Jul 20, 2007

The problem is that I reported the unprofessional conduct of my clinical teacher to the university's nursing teaching staff.
But have you put your complaint in writing? From what you suggest, it may not have a lot to do with anything racial, perhaps they are just being unfair to you (in your opinion), if there is only one other student then it does not seem that you are being singled out from a large group; made an example of. However, you will have a right to appeal any mark given to you if you feel that something is not right, and you ought to pursue that, everyone has a boss that they mjust answer to in the working world (almost!), especially in large institutions, just be careful not to start suggesting racism is the reason, as it may not be, from your previous post, I thought it blatently was, but it seems they are being unfair in a general sense, so appeal the mark.
Good luck

joannep · Jul 24, 2007

I agree that you need to put your complaint in writing. The university will have a grievance procedure that you will need to follow.

Clinical teachers are meant to give constructive criticism regarding your clinical practice during a clinical placement. Are you sure that you that you are able to take constructive criticism professionally, and not personally. Some people are more sensitive about criticism than others.

Sabby_NC · Jul 24, 2007

I agree that you need to put your complaint in writing. The university will have a grievance procedure that you will need to follow.
Clinical teachers are meant to give constructive criticism regarding your clinical practice during a clinical placement. Are you sure that you that you are able to take constructive criticism professionally, and not personally. Some people are more sensitive about criticism than others.

Could not have said that any better!

nyapa, RN · Jul 24, 2007

Put it in writing. An example; a lecturer at our university had many complaints against her for years, but nothing was done, until a complaint was in writing to the Dean. It has to be investigated then. Take the advice of everyone here. If they request a meeting, take someone independent with you, so they can't brow beat you.

bethin · Jul 24, 2007

Definitely put pen to paper and follow your university's grievance policy. What makes you believe that you were discriminated based on race? That's something a lawyer would ask if it comes to that. Good luck!

BTW, does Australia have laws regarding equal rights? The US has the Civil Rights Act, do you have something similar?

bethin · Jul 24, 2007

Some questions to answer in your paper: How did they bully you? Dates, times, names, etc are very important. Did the automatically treat you differently based on your race? If so, names, dates, what was said. Leave nothing out. I still believe that some people are racist(and for the record I despise those people). I can't understand how you feel because as a white woman I've never had to deal with racial discrimination. I'm so sorry you have to go through this in 2007. You would think by now that people would realize that being racist is no longer politically correct. Besides, it's rude, unkind, and serves no purpose. Ok, this infuriates me that this is still happening.

Write your paper and if the school doesn't want to do anything about it, send it to the local media. Newspaper usually have an editorial comment area where you can send in your story. Do not let these people win because I doubt it just started with you. I'm sure there are others.

Good luck!

ieltsshy · Jul 24, 2007

First and foremost, why did you do your nursing in Melbourne? Is it because you want to practise there after you graduate. I am very sure nursing colleges in Malaysia is just as good.I do not want to pass judgment but if you faced racial discrimination there, I am not surprised. I have been to a lot of "white" countries, Australia included, and the tolerance they have for Asians is impeccable. The only country I don't feel at ease is, you guess it, Australia. Imagine people like Pauline Hanson, wonder where is she now? Hope I didn't open up a can of worms. No offense to others who are tolerant because at the end of the day we are all humans, be it black, white, yellow or brown.

nyapa, RN · Jul 25, 2007

First and foremost, why did you do your nursing in Melbourne? Is it because you want to practise there after you graduate. I am very sure nursing colleges in Malaysia is just as good.I do not want to pass judgment but if you faced racial discrimination there, I am not surprised. I have been to a lot of "white" countries, Australia included, and the tolerance they have for Asians is impeccable. The only country I don't feel at ease is, you guess it, Australia. Imagine people like Pauline Hanson, wonder where is she now? Hope I didn't open up a can of worms. No offense to others who are tolerant because at the end of the day we are all humans, be it black, white, yellow or brown.

No you haven't. After all, this is your experience and you are sharing it honestly. I think all countries though have much to offer in their universities because of their unique outlooks. I appreciate the fact that you don't put all ppl in the same class as Pauline Hanson...:balloons:

jonRNMD · Jul 26, 2007

i was fortunate enough to be able to tour Australia with my family back in 2004. believe it or not, i felt unwelcomed even upon our arrival in Brisbane Airport.....i was trying to order a soda and cheesecake on one of the kiosk but the man on the counter kept on ignoring me but gave the other customers their orders...also my family and I were ignored 3X in different restaurants in melbourne and perth as we often do not go with the tour group during dinner because we got tired of the usual chinese food which was included in the tour package.....we only stayed for 10 days in Australia and we generally enjoyed our stay but these instances clearly stuck into my mind.....i was amazed at the large population of east asians (chinese, koreans, japanese) in Sydney but these things still happen. i have been to most of western Europe and Canada on tours but never experience this kind of instances....

as a new legal permanent resident of the US, I am looking forward in integrating and assimilating in white America as i know that Asians are more accepted here....

also i want to apologize to the more tolerant white Australians as I am basing this on my actual experience while touring Australia