David Gonski, one of the great voices of Australian education and philanthropy, will chair the government’s year-long Antisemitism Education Taskforce. This initiative aims to address the problem of antisemitism on the nation’s campuses. Gonski, sometimes referred to as the “chairman of everything,” has been an indispensable force behind changing Australia’s education landscape. He pioneered the country’s school funding model and ran the University of New South Wales for twenty years. His new role officially begins this Friday. Though it is a temporary measure, this position signals a huge step forward in the national response to preventing and combating antisemitism.
Minister for Education Jason Clare said that education would be key to addressing antisemitism in the country. He was particularly insistent on the need to confront and root out antisemitism. He points out how essential education is in preventing, addressing, and reacting to this problem. The purpose of the taskforce will be to gather representatives from several industries together. It will feature Australia’s special envoy to fight antisemitism, Jillian Segal, representing a global collaborative effort to confront this urgent challenge.
Collaborative Efforts Against Antisemitism
Gonski’s taskforce has been joined in that spirit by some of the other new drives emerging from the Go8. To this end, they’ve established an independent expert committee on antisemitism, headed by Dr. Alan Finkel. The Go8 committee focuses on eradicating antisemitism on university campuses and aligns with the broader goals of the Antisemitism Education Taskforce. Vicki Thomson, the Chief Executive of the Group of Eight, highlighted the importance of joint effort. She emphasised that our governments, universities and every sector of the Australian community need to come together to prevent and respond to antisemitism in Australian society and on our university campuses.
Indeed, both Universities Australia and the Go8 were quick to welcome Gonski’s taskforce. Thomson highlighted the collective responsibility of educational institutions in addressing this societal issue, stating, “The Go8, and its member universities, unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all its forms. It is abhorrent, unacceptable, and has no place in our universities or in Australian society.” She welcomed the difficult truth that universities have struggled to identify and respond to antisemitism over the last two years.
Focus on Education and Inclusion
As a significant player in the intercultural dialogue space, the taskforce will work in collaboration with Together for Humanity (TFH), an NFP established by Rabbi Zalman Kastel. TFH strengthens diversity and inclusion by facilitating educational opportunities where interfaith and community leaders come into schools to share their experiences and help students understand classmates from different backgrounds. Annette Schneider, CEO of TFH, stated, “Our core work is ensuring that all school students across this country have the skills to reject prejudice, embrace diversity and ultimately ensure that every young person feels that they belong.”
Clare highlighted the importance for education systems to build understanding of dangers posed by antisemitism and Holocaust. He said, “We should be making sure that our kids have a full education about the evil of antisemitism…but they should learn about the horrible aspects of the Holocaust.” Moreover, as he explained that “kids don’t come out of the womb antisemitic,” children come to hate one another through social conditioning. Ending with this recognition is undoubtedly meant to emphasize the importance of what educators do to shape students’ values.
Measuring Progress and Impact
The success of the Antisemitism Education Taskforce will ultimately be measured by tangible shifts in our schools and classrooms. The most important gauge of success will be whether Jewish students no longer require armed sentries within Australia’s education system. That will show how safe and inclusive our schools really are. Clare argued that true progress would be seen once students are able to attend their schools free from the fear of discrimination, including violence.
Jacinta Collins, Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), noted that students increasingly rely on their teachers for truth amid misinformation prevalent in today’s media landscape. As Sen. She continued, “Our children and young people are looking to their teachers and their schools for truth.” She highlighted how important educators are to prepare students with the critical thinking tools to shape solutions.
