As anti-migrant rhetoric gains political traction and racialised communities face rising attacks across Australia, Democracy in Colour has convened a vital coalition of organisations and community advocates to deliver a movement-wide gathering in Naarm (Melbourne) on July 25–26, 2026.
The inaugural Racial Justice Network (RJN) Strategy Retreat brings together a broad ecosystem of impacted communities and civil society organisations. By convening Multicultural, First Nations, Union, Faith, Climate, and Rights groups, this gathering offers a rare opportunity to connect, share experiences, and build shared strategies across movements.
“Racialised communities are facing unprecedented times. The harms being directed at our communities demand a unified, collective response. Now more than ever, the strategy retreat is needed as we know that the fight against systemic racism and fascism requires deep, cross-movement solidarity. We need a bold and collaborative approach to counter the vilifying and demonising narrative against racialised communities and protect our democracy and civil rights so we can build a future where everyone thrives,” says DeCo National Director Noura Mansour.
The primary goal of the retreat is to set the foundation for a broad, long-term, nationwide Racial Justice Network to convene, plan, and coordinate actions and campaigns across the movement for racial justice. Faced with growing harms against racialised communities and the wider public, the gathering aims to drive a powerful, collaborative approach to anti-racism across Australia.
Program:
- Discussions on the state of racial justice in Australia and understanding the rise of the far-right and the current polycrisis.
- Speakers include First Nations leaders, academics and activists including Meriki Onus (co-chair of Gellung Warl), Tarneen Onus Browne, Tracey Cooper, Lara Watson, and Will Potter.
- Speakers from various organisations: Dr. Lana Tatour, Oscar Kaspi-Crutchett (VTHC), Sawsan Alfayadh and Miriam Lyons (The Sunrise Project), Sarah Baarini and Nour Salman (Free Palestine Movement), Nandini Sen Mehra (Hindus for Human Rights), Omar Hassan (CARF), Mahesh Geetha (ACTU), and Alycia Gawthorne (ASRC).
Endorsed by:
- 350 Australia
- Anti Poverty Centre
- Australian Arab Institute for Culture and Ideas
- Australian Council of Trade Unions
- Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
- Australian Progress
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
- BDS Youth Magandjin
- Centre Against Racial Profiling
- Conservation SA
- Common Threads
- Disability Rights and Culture
- Fair Agenda
- Foundation for Young Australians
- Free Palestine Melbourne
- GetUp
- Gellung Warl
- Hindus for Human Rights
- Jewish Advocates for Understanding Antisemitism
- KARU Collective
- Loud Jew Collective
- MAA International
- Mounty Aboriginal Youth and Community Services
- Our Race Community
- Reconciliation WA
- Sisters Inside
- Strait Climate Action
- The Humanism Project
- The Human Rights Law Centre
- Tomorrow Movement
- Victorian Trades Hall Council
- Women of Colour Melbourne