New Survey Reveals Escalation of Antisemitic Incidents on Australian University Campuses
A new study by the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism (5A) found that Jewish students and staff have experienced an uptick of antisemitism since the Oct 7 attack
The 2024 Survey of Antisemitism in Australian Universities, conducted by the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism (5A), reveals a troubling escalation of antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish students and staff across the nation’s higher education institutions. The survey was carried out by two expert social scientists, Andrew Markus and Efrat Eilam. This comprehensive study sheds light on the prevalence of antisemitism on campuses, the profound impact on the Jewish academic community, and the perceived inadequacies in university responses.
Key Findings
The survey, which gathered responses from 548 individuals across 30 universities—including 395 students and 149 staff—highlights an unsettling picture. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported personally experiencing antisemitic comments. Only 38 percent of students and 36 percent of academic staff stated that they felt safe on campus. Perhaps most concerning, a majority of respondents—60 percent of students and 54 percent of staff—felt that university management is not doing enough to address the issue.
These findings suggest that antisemitism is not an occasional or isolated problem, but a systemic issue affecting the wellbeing and safety of Jewish individuals in academic environments.
The Human Impact
Beyond the data, the survey documented more than 21,000 words of personal testimony. These stories reveal a deep sense of alienation, emotional harm, and anxiety. Many Jewish students and academics described feelings of rejection and isolation, and some have withdrawn from campus life altogether. Nearly half of both students and academic staff reported a decline in their interactions with non-Jewish peers since October 7, 2023. Alarmingly, 45 percent of students said they had reduced their class attendance due to feeling unsafe or unwelcome.
Methodological Considerations
While the survey was based on self-selected responses, which introduces some limitations in terms of representation, the consistency between student and staff experiences strengthens the credibility of the findings. The report’s conclusions also align with other recent submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities, which noted that “antisemitic behaviour is not only present on many campuses but is an embedded part of the culture.”
This alignment with both anecdotal and formal reporting supports the view that antisemitism is not exaggerated or imagined, but a tangible issue with widespread effects.
Contextualizing the Findings
The rise of antisemitism in Australian universities cannot be viewed in isolation. It mirrors international trends, where global political tensions often spill over into academic spaces. The proliferation of ideologies such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and the adoption of intersectional and critical race theory frameworks that sometimes exclude or vilify Jewish identities, have compounded the issue.
These dynamics echo findings from studies conducted at institutions abroad, such as those from Brandeis University, highlighting a broader pattern of marginalization faced by Jewish communities in higher education.
Jewish Australian Leaders Respond
The findings of the 2024 survey have sparked strong reactions from leaders of Jewish Australian organizations, emphasizing the urgent need for action and leadership in response to the rise in antisemitism on campuses.
Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, expressed the gravity of the situation:
"The findings of this report should be a wake-up call. The rise in antisemitism on university campuses is not just a Jewish problem—it’s a national one, because it speaks to the erosion of civil discourse and the failure to uphold core academic values. We now face a choice: either institutions take meaningful action to uphold the rights of all students—including Jewish and Zionist ones—or they risk further alienating an entire generation. This is a moment for moral leadership, not equivocation."
Robert Gregory, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Jewish Association, offered additional insights, particularly regarding the experiences of Jewish students and staff:
"We have spoken to many Jewish students and staff at different Australian universities and all are greatly concerned. Many report having witnessed antisemitism or not feeling safe on campus. The University of Sydney and the Australian National University are amongst the worst. Campus antisemitism is almost entirely from the far-left, with some also coming from Islamic extremists. University administrators have been slow to react and weak in punishing students responsible for antisemitic incidents. The ringleaders behind antisemitic incitement should be expelled. We are disappointed that all Australian universities were not quick to listen to the Jewish community and adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The Australian Government has ignored the pleas from the Jewish community and the Opposition to hold an independent judicial inquiry into the antisemitism crisis on campus, which would have been a crucial tool in uncovering what is going on and suggesting solutions."
Mr. Gregory also compared the Australian approach to the actions taken in the United States:
"The Australian Government should carefully monitor what is working in the United States such as the withholding of funds to universities who tolerate racism and the deportation of foreign students who incite violence."
Dr. Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, reaffirmed the survey’s findings and called for greater leadership from both university and political leaders:
"The comprehensive research in the 5A survey confirms what we’ve known since October 7 and, indeed, for years before that. Australian universities have an antisemitism problem, which the leadership of most universities refuses to confront. Jews on campus often feel unsafe and unsupported. They often hide their Jewish identity, and don’t complain about discrimination for fear their marks or their careers will be affected. The solution is leadership—from our political leaders, from university leaders, and from student leaders. They need to listen—actually listen—to Jews on campus, and they need to shut down activities that single out or exclude Jews, in the same way they shut down activities that harm members of the LGBTI community and other ethnic or religious minorities."
Charting a Path Forward
The 5A survey concludes with a strong call for institutional reform. Universities must acknowledge the presence and impact of antisemitism and take deliberate steps to counter it. This includes implementing clear policies, ensuring transparent and effective reporting systems, and creating educational programs that address antisemitism in all its forms.