Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal AO, today published the Understanding Antisemitism in Australia handbook. The handbook will formally be launched in St Kilda, Melbourne, next week. The handbook is available to download from the Envoy’s website.
The handbook is a practical, academically rigorous guide to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism, the definition adopted by the Australian Government, contextualised for Australian life. It is designed for use across all sectors: education, workplaces, sport, the arts and community organisations.
At its heart, this is a resource grounded in people, not policy. For too many Jewish Australians, antisemitism is a daily reality. This handbook gives voice to those experiences and helps all Australians understand what antisemitism looks like today.
Australia has always been at its best when we look out for one another. The promise of this country, that anyone can belong, contribute and feel safe regardless of their background or faith is something every generation must actively protect. When any community feels unsafe, that promise is diminished for all of us.
Jewish Australians have been part of the fabric of this nation since the First Fleet. They have helped build our institutions, served in our armed forces, enriched our culture and strengthened our communities. Standing against antisemitism is not a favour to one community, it is an affirmation of who we are as a country and who we want to be.
Jillian Segal AO, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, said:
“This handbook is about people, not politics. It draws on real experiences to help our community understand antisemitism in its modern forms — and gives every sector the tools to stand against it, consistent with the values of fairness and respect that define us as Australians.”
The handbook forms part of the Special Envoy’s broader program of work under her national Plan to Combat Antisemitism.