News: Let’s talk about race: A guide on how to conduct conversations about racism Talking about racism can be difficult. Many sporting organisations do not discuss racism until they are faced with an incident, such as a derogatory comment made by one person to another, or an instance of offensive behaviour. In the aftermath of a racist incident, sporting organisations may not be well prepared to navigate the issues arising with the appropriate level of care. An overt incident may also be seen as an isolated occurrence rather than an indication of a more systemic problem. This may lead those who have experienced racism to feel unsupported, and risk more incidents happening in the future. A new approach is needed. Australian sporting organisations would benefit from dealing with racism in a proactive rather than a reactive way. This will make sporting organisations more inclusive and resilient. It will also have important social and cultural impacts outside of the organisation. Play by the Rules partner, the Australian Human Rights Commission, has developed a guide to assist Australian organisations in conducting meaningful and productive conversations about racism. It can be used in conventional workplaces, including sporting clubs, as well as other organisations. While it is designed to be useful as a proactive document, it can also be used to assist in facilitating conversations about racism after an incident has occurred. The guide is divided into three parts. PART 1 provides information on cultural diversity in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. PART 2 contains detailed guidance on how to conduct a conversation about racism in your organisation, and contains links to relevant resources for facilitators and a Participant Information Sheet. PART 3 is a guide on how to keep a conversation about racism on track. It contains common statements that people may make to try to derail a conversation about racism and provides suggestions on how to respond respectfully. To get you copy of Let’s talk race: A guide on how to conduct conversations about racism go to https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/publications 04 Play by the Rules Magazine Issue 29