Caste Bias in Oz? Why Denials Are Hurting Real Lives- PATCA Speaks Out!

Sydney – The Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia (PATCA), a leading advocacy organization for social justice, has issued a strongly worded press release decrying recent online statements that dismiss caste discrimination as nonexistent in the country. The statement comes amid heightened awareness following an SBS investigation earlier this month, which spotlighted widespread dismissals of the issue despite documented evidence of its impact on South Asian diaspora communities.

The catalyst for PATCA's response appears tied to public discourse amplified by SBS's November 10, 2025, report titled "SBS Examines: Does Caste Discrimination Exist in Australia?" In the feature, experts and affected individuals highlighted common rebuttals, such as "oh, it doesn't exist in Australia," underscoring a pattern of denial that PATCA argues perpetuates harm.

The broadcaster's exploration revealed caste-based exclusion in employment, education, healthcare, and social settings, drawing from testimonies of those facing "untouchability" practices imported from South Asian cultural contexts

"Caste discrimination in Australia is well-documented," PATCA's release states, pointing to multiple reports from the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). These include findings from national consultations supported by the AHRC, which detail systemic exclusion, harassment of caste-oppressed communities, particularly Dalit and other marginalized Hindu groups, fear of reprisals for reporting incidents, and discrimination against children in schools and extracurricular activities. Social stigma within diaspora environments further entrenches these barriers, according to the advocacy group.

The AHRC's formal recognition of caste-based discrimination as a form of intersectional racial discrimination, announced in May 2025, marks a pivotal step in Australia's anti-racism efforts. This acknowledgment builds on the National Anti-Racism Framework's 2024 full report, which addresses faith- and caste-based discrimination alongside broader racial inequities. Earlier AHRC consultations have similarly captured lived experiences of prejudice, including workplace bias and community ostracism, affecting over one million South Asians in Australia.

PATCA's statement emphasizes that such denials "do not reflect the lived reality of caste-oppressed communities" and instead "reinforce the structural invisibility of the wide-ranging and severe institutional discrimination" faced in workplaces, schools, religious settings, public spaces, and everyday community life. The group warns that erasing these experiences delays progress and undermines the safety and dignity of those enduring them.

"Acknowledgement of harm, not its erasure, is the starting point for constructive engagement," the release asserts. PATCA calls on governments, institutions, and the public to prioritize evidence-based action, including policy reforms to explicitly prohibit caste discrimination under existing anti-racism laws.

Founded on the principles of social reformers Periyar and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, PATCA has long championed caste equity and rationalism in Australia. Recent activities include condemning a racially motivated attack in Parramatta on November 20, 2025, and hosting discussions on diaspora discrimination. The organization remains committed to collaborating with authorities to foster an inclusive society where "everyone, including those from caste-oppressed Hindu communities, can participate fully, safely, and equally."

As Australia's South Asian population grows, projected to exceed 1.5 million by 2035, the urgency to address caste dynamics intensifies. Advocacy experts note that while federal recognition advances, state-level implementations lag, leaving gaps in protections. PATCA's intervention highlights a broader push for cultural reckoning, urging allies to amplify survivor voices over dismissive narratives.

This development follows a series of 2025 events raising caste awareness, including a November symposium in Melbourne on diaspora discrimination and SBS's ongoing coverage of intersectional racism. Stakeholders, including the AHRC, continue to advocate for a national inquiry into workplace racism, which could encompass caste-specific vulnerabilities.

PATCA's release, shared via social media on November 26, has garnered early support from justice advocates, signaling potential momentum for legislative change.