Standing up against discrimination

A fantastic opportunity arrived when Courage to Care NSW and The Ethics Centre launched a pivotal program for young people across our state, proudly funded by Multicultural NSW’s Compact Grant program. The focus? One of the most pressing struggles Australians continue to face or witness: discrimination.

Over three days, Year 9 and 10 students from across the Illawarra gathered at the Wollongong Youth Centre to take part in the Common Ground program. Together, we learnt not only to recognise discrimination in its many forms but also to challenge and overcome it, helping to build a community where everyone feels safe and accepted, regardless of culture, background, or ability.

Before participating in the program, I understood discrimination only as something “bad” – a simple wrong we were all taught to avoid, without ever questioning why it happens or what sustains it.

Growing up with a multicultural background, I have faced many stereotypical insults, but I never really saw them as a big deal. I knew discrimination existed, but I only saw it at face value – people saying hurtful things to make themselves feel better. Through a series of activities, case studies and creative programs, Common Ground showed me just how complex it is. While I knew discrimination could involve gender, religion, disability, and age, I had assumed it only appeared in big, obvious ways like bullying. I had not considered the smaller, everyday forms such as jokes, exclusion, or subtle assumptions. I learnt how hidden these forms of discrimination can be, shifting my mindset completely. Now I am more empathetic and aware, thinking about the meaning behind a joke rather than dismissing it and have the confidence and practical skills needed to fight what can only be described as a virus of hatred.

What stood out most was how effortlessly the organisers drew us into a topic we’d all heard about countless times before. But this time, it felt different. We were guided by “value cards” that highlighted the program’s principles, especially the three C’s: curiosity, carefulness, and courage. These sparked deep discussions about what those values meant to each of us, encouraging us to explore the issue of discrimination on a personal level.

I had previously thought curiosity was only about seeking knowledge, but the program taught me it is about listening and understanding people’s experiences without judgment. Carefulness is not just about thinking before speaking; it is also about considering how my actions affect others. Courage is having the confidence to try something new and to challenge discrimination respectfully. Hearing how other students approached these values showed me there is more than one way to make a difference and that small actions can matter just as much as big ones. My perspective changed completely.

The activities Common Ground provided were equally eye-opening. An online game showed how misinformation spreads like wildfire on social media, shaping perceptions and fuelling prejudice. Another exercise asked us to “buy privileges” for a child, using only a limited budget. The unfairness of unequal resources became painfully clear as some children could afford opportunities while others missed out. In our final group project, we created videos exploring real experiences of discrimination and brainstorming ways to combat it.

The third and final day brought together students from across the Wollongong LGA for a mix of learning, competition, and celebration. Two teams tied for the People’s Choice Award, with powerful presentations on racial and religious discrimination. The overall winners, however, tackled racial discrimination in a striking way. Their victory came with $1,000 in prize money, which they generously donated to Illawarra Multicultural Services, an organisation that supports migrants and refugees with housing, jobs, and community support.

By the end of the program, the message was clear. We, as young people, had not only learned how to recognise discrimination – even in its subtlest forms – but also how to respond with confidence, safety, and integrity.

The Common Ground program didn’t just teach us about injustice; it empowered us to become catalysts for change, fostering communities built on diversity, inclusiveness, and support.

Common Ground is a workshop program for Year 9-10 students that empowers them to stand up against discrimination. We’re taking expressions of interest for schools in South West Sydney to join this free program in Term 2, 2026. Register your school’s interest today by contacting us at learn@ethics.org.au.