Catholic Schools NSW has jointly hosted a roundtable on antisemitism in education with Jillian Segal, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia.
Held at Australian Catholic University, the roundtable identified and assessed the challenge of antisemitism in schools, presented responses to antisemitism and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.
Led by a keynote address from Ms Segal covering her work as special envoy, the roundtable showcased successful antisemitic initiatives and programs undertaken by Sydney Catholic Schools, led by its director of religious education and evangelisation, Anthony Cleary.
Following the presentations, Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney moderated a discussion among the attendees, focusing on the various perspectives from the representative heads of various organisations.
In a show of unity, over 3000 schools were represented, including all three schooling sectors, as well as Christian, Anglican and Jewish schools, and the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Murat Dizdar.
Ms Segal said it was “heartening to hear around the table strong condemnation of antisemitism in our society and acknowledgement of the essential role schools have in countering it and ensuring they educate future leaders about it”.
“I am very grateful to Catholic Schools NSW for their strong and ongoing stand against hate and bigotry,” Ms Segal said.
Mr McInerney said school leaders have a “unique responsibility” to ensure that schools are welcoming and safe environments for all students”.
“We have Jewish students in all three sectors of NSW education, and today, we send a powerful message that antisemitism has no place in our schools and education is the best antidote to bigotry.”
FULL STORY
An Australian first school roundtable on antisemitism (Catholic Schools NSW)
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