As concerns grow about rising anti-Semitism in the wake of university campus protests against the war in Gaza, measures aimed at improving social cohesion in schools will receive an extra $4 million over two years in the Federal Budget.
Budget papers show that provider Together for Humanity will expand its reach into under-represented jurisdictions and communities.
It would also increase activities aimed at addressing all forms of discrimination in schools – “in particular anti-Semitism and Islamophobia”.
The initiative to combat discrimination in schools aims to “strengthen intercultural and interfaith understanding”.
However, WA will receive nearly 50 per cent less funding than NSW and Victoria for a national program for individuals deemed to be at risk of being radicalised to violent extremism.
The government will provide another $700,000 to WA this year as it expands its Living Safe Together Intervention program into country areas and online – while NSW and Victoria will each get $1.1 million.
Deradicalisation programs have been in the spotlight since it emerged last week that a Perth teen who was shot by police in Willetton after he charged at them with a knife had been enrolled in a similar intervention program for two years.
WA will also receive $500,000 to enhance its capability to support high-risk extremists in custody and in the community in disengaging from violent extremism, compared with $600,000 each for NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Source Agencies
