Anti-Racism Contact Officers

Anti-Racism Contact Officers (ARCOs) play a critical role in countering racism in schools. This section provides information about the ARCO role and resources available to support their work.

Who can be an ARCO

The Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO) is a teacher or executive member of staff who has been nominated by the principal to support anti-racism education in the school. The ARCO should:

  • have a commitment to anti-racism education
  • have good communication and interpersonal skills
  • be trusted by students, staff, parents/carers and the school community.

The cultural, linguistic or religious background of a teacher is not a criterion for selecting an ARCO. Depending on the size of the school and the needs of the school community, the principal may decide to nominate several ARCOs to support wellbeing or specific learning stages.

As far as possible, principals should ensure that there is an ARCO on staff to provide support, if required, on every day of the school week. Where the nominated ARCO is a permanent part-time or part time temporary teacher, another ARCO should be nominated to ensure all school days are covered.

The role of the ARCO

Role of the Anti-Racism Contact Officer


ARCOs are trained to undertake their role. Principals are responsible for ensuring that newly nominated ARCOs complete the ARCO blended online training course. It is appropriate for other members of staff to complete this training, including members of the executive and other members of an anti-racism team.

The ARCO plays an important role in assisting and working collaboratively with the principal to implement major aspects of the Anti-Racism Policy:

Promote anti-racism education Support the reporting process Collect data

provide advice on incorporating whole school anti-racism education strategies in school planning

facilitate professional learning to build awareness of the impact of racism on social cohesion, student learning and wellbeing

assist teachers to access resources which build awareness and understanding of the impacts of racism

promote upstander responses to incidents of racism for staff and students.

provide advice to students, staff and community members about how to report racism

support teachers to address reports of racism involving students through approaches such as restorative practice which promote respectful behaviours

manage reports of racism made by students against other students in accordance with the Student behaviour policy and the school's behaviour procedures

provide impartial support to the person making the report of racism during the process to increase the likelihood of a satisfactory outcome

provide advice related to the impact of racism to the principal and/or nominated staff member managing the report.

maintain records of reports of racism and outcomes

identify which datasets regarding racism should be collected

analyse significant statistical trends in relation to reports of racism.

Resources and support for ARCOs

Funding to support the release of ARCOs is provided to schools each year through the School Budget Allocation Report (SBAR). Schools may wish to provide additional relief for ARCOs to meet local needs.

The SBAR resource hub provides information on resources allocated to schools to support the ARCO role.

Information about ARCO mandatory training and ways you can connect with other ARCOs through local networks and the Anti-Racism Education statewide staffroom are available on the Anti-Racism - Professional support webpage.

Anti-racism poster sets can be ordered from Henry Parkes Equity Resource Centre:

Contact us

For additional information, contact antiracismeducation@det.nsw.edu.au.

Category:

  • DoE
  • Teaching and learning

Business Unit:

  • Educational Standards
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