Elite WA school condemns racism after students caught sending ‘disgusting’ messages
WARNING: This article contains racist and offensive language and images.
Indigenous educators say they are not “disgusted, but not surprised’ by messages sent between students at an elite private school in Western Australia invoking racist stereotypes about Indigenous people.
Presbyterian Ladies College received a complaint about the messages sent over the social media app Snapchat, then screenshots were circulated within the school community.
An excerpt of the messages the ABC has chosen to show. (Supplied)
The ABC has chosen not to show the messages as they contain offensive depictions of Indigenous people.
The messages contained racial slurs against Indigenous Australians, including references to suicide, sexual abuse, and alcohol use.
The school became aware of the messages and due to its position as private independent institutions, was not required to notify the Department of Education or the WA minister for education.
The ABC shared the messages with the school and asked a series of questions including what was the outcome for the students involved and how the school was supporting students affected by the messages.
Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) principal Cate Begbie told the ABC the school did not comment on student matters.
“PLC is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful learning environment for all students, from pre-kindergarten to year 12,” she said.
“We value diversity and the importance of learning from one another in a supportive way.“
The school said it worked with students to promote and foster diversity. (Dominic Briggs)
Ms Begbie did not respond to queries about the specific incident.
The school is one of the most expensive single-sex institutions in the state, with its alumni including High Court Justice Michelle Gordon.
‘Outdated and exhausting’
Presbyterian Ladies College has scholarships for Indigenous students, and supports them through various programs including its Deadly Dreaming workshops.
Sharna Walley runs the program for the school, and manages national youth programs aimed at empowering Indigenous students to do well in school.
Sharna Walley is the architect of the Deadly Dreaming program that has worked with Aboriginal students at Presbyterian Ladies College in the past. (ABC News: Mitchell Edgar)
“As a Noongar woman I personally know the challenges navigating school in this society as an Aboriginal person but also as someone who had experienced a more difficult childhood,” she said.
“I started working with youth way back when I was studying at uni and always wanted to work with young people, I myself struggled with my identity and racism at that age and wanted to see better outcomes and support for the young people in my community.
“I was disgusted but unfortunately not surprised.
“This behaviour is not new or original — in fact it’s outdated and exhausting, it’s a more contemporary platform but people have been facilitating hateful forums for decades.”
Only Victoria and New South Wales currently collect data about student experiences of racism in school settings.
However, the 2017 Speak Out Against Racism study found more than 40 per cent of 4,664 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or students from culturally and linguistically diverse communities experienced racial discrimination from their peers.
Ms Walley said it was important to understand the full extent of racism in Australian schools.
“More education is needed, [including] more support for our teachers and also within our curriculum from pre-primary right through to universities,” she said.
“These topics don’t need to be avoided, there is so much data and research that shows the benefits of anti-racism education on all levels.”
The school did not respond to specific questions about how it would protect its Indigenous students from racism in the future. (Dominic Briggs)
Ms Begbie said the school had a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, racism and any form of discrimination.
“Any breaches of our student code of conduct are taken seriously and addressed promptly,” she said.
“Our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all students, staff, and families remains at the core of everything we do.”
Post-Voice deterioration
Stijn Denayer, chief executive of All Together Now, a not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting anti-racism, said he had witnessed public discourse becoming increasingly racist after the Voice referendum in October 2023.
“Individual expressions of racism such as these messages are a sign of a much broader and deeper problem,” he said.
“Horrible messages such as these are the casual manner in which structural racial inequity is upheld in Australian society.
“The climate has definitely deteriorated after the referendum.
“Hateful misinformation targeting First Nations People was widespread during the referendum and the outcome gave a lot of people the idea that it was okay to be racist and spread racism online, and also that racism and hate worked as a strategy.”
Mr Denayer said it was imperative schools played a part in anti-racism education.
“These horrible messages are not a one-off aberration but a sign of deeper and structural issues, including deeply entrenched stereotypes and a sense of entitlement and privilege,” he said.
“Schools can’t sweep this under the carpet and only rely on ‘damage control’ strategies.
“They have a social responsibility to help things change for the better.”
Ms Walley said she had also seen public discourse deteriorate following the referendum.
“My daughter started high school last year and within her first term she had reported four incidents of racism to me, that was such a disempowering experience for a kid who is so proud of her culture,” she said.
“I’ve had someone whisper ‘white-power’ while at a public event, we’ve been completely ignored when waiting in queues.
“My husband has been laughed at and mocked during cultural presentations, we’ve had random people yell at us in public while with our children, we have blocked hundreds of profiles through our business page on social media and deleted at least 40 per cent of the comments on our cultural content…
“The list goes on, but we are not alone and this is not an isolated experience, many of our community are reporting the same types of experiences and it’s so much worse now than it was a few years ago.”
Educators say it’s important for Australian schools to actively teach anti-racism to non-POC students, as well as focus on initiatives to help students of colour feel supported and seen. (Dominic Briggs)
A message to students
Ms Walley said the students involved needed to “do better”.
“I really hope there is some learning here and I hope you educate yourselves,” she said.
“Doing harm to others only makes you look bad and it’s these attitudes that create division.”
Ms Walley said the Indigenous students hurt by the messages deserved to feel supported.
“They deserve better and they belong here in this space just as much as any other kid, in fact I’d tell them to take up space unapologetically,” she said.
“You are our future generation and we have your back, you are not alone and we see you, you matter.
“We are survivors, always was and always will be.
“I’d also say: sorry.
“Sorry that this is your reality and that people are still behaving like this, it’s not ok and you deserve to be safe.
“Block and delete.”
The Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia said the matter sat outside its responsibilities as a member organisation.
A spokesperson for Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs Tony Buti said it was not his place to comment as the private schools were independent institutions, but all forms of racism was unacceptable.
