USC Shoah Foundation Joins UNESCO and Australian Education Leaders to Address Antisemitism in Schools

As Australia confronts a sharp rise in antisemitism and growing concern for Jewish students, the USC Shoah Foundation joined UNESCO, Australian education leaders, and the Sydney Jewish Museum for a series of education-focused engagements designed to help educators recognize and respond to antisemitism in the classroom.

The initiative came at a moment of heightened urgency for Australia’s Jewish community. According to recent data from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents were reported nationally in the 12 months leading up to October 2025, nearly five times higher than the average before October 2023. UNESCO has also documented troubling incidents in Australian schools, including antisemitic harassment, Holocaust-related threats, and attacks targeting Jewish students, underscoring the growing need for educator training and coordinated school-based responses.

Representing the USC Shoah Foundation, Director of Education Dr. Lesly Culp participated in workshops and strategic convenings in Sydney and Melbourne organized in partnership with UNESCO’s Education Sector, the Sydney Jewish Museum, and the office of Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.

The initiative followed the January 2026 attack at Bondi Beach and brought together approximately 200 educators, school leaders, curriculum specialists, and government officials from six Australian states: New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.

The program included a strategic session with 60 state-level Department of Education representatives responsible for shaping policy, curriculum, and teacher training, alongside four professional development workshops focused on helping educators navigate contemporary antisemitism within broader anti-bias and anti-racism education frameworks.

Sessions centered on two key priorities: advancing policy to incorporate antisemitism education and professional development into teacher training and curriculum and strengthening educator capacity to address contemporary antisemitism through historically grounded classroom practice.

Dr. Culp presented strategies for integrating testimony about contemporary antisemitism into educational settings, emphasizing the use of primary sources, historical context, and structured classroom dialogue to help students engage thoughtfully with complex and emotionally challenging topics.

She reflected on the broader significance of the initiative, “Working alongside UNESCO and Australian educators reinforced the value of embedding testimony-based learning into broader education strategies for addressing contemporary antisemitism. Educators saw firsthand testimony, paired with strong pedagogy, as a meaningful way to deepen student understanding while strengthening broader efforts to build informed, resilient, and inclusive learning environments across education systems.”

Participants expressed particular interest in testimony-based approaches that help students engage with contemporary antisemitism through personal experiences, historical context, and structured classroom dialogue. Feedback throughout the workshops highlighted strong demand for practical classroom strategies and educational resources that can help teachers navigate difficult conversations with confidence and care.

“Education is where the work of addressing antisemitism must begin,” said Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. “Our responsibility is not only to respond to incidents, but to build school communities where Jewish students feel safe, visible and respected, and where every student is equipped to stand against antisemitism in all its forms.”

At a time when educators around the world are confronting rising antisemitism and increasing polarization in schools, the convenings demonstrated how testimony and historically grounded education can help students move beyond slogans and stereotypes toward deeper understanding, reflection, and human connection.