On 30 January, the IEU condemned a spate of antisemitic attacks at sites across Sydney, including a school and a childcare centre.
On the night of 29 January, Mount Sinai College in Maroubra was vandalised with antisemitic hate speech. The week before, the nearby Only About Children childcare centre was firebombed, and both the centre and Maroubra synagogue were spray painted with antisemitic graffiti.
The IEU believes schools and childcare centres should be safe places – not targets of hate crimes.
“Our hearts go out to our members, to teachers, support staff, students and the broader Jewish community impacted by these shocking attacks,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews.
“It is heartbreaking that on the first day back at school, staff, students and parents should be faced with antisemitic hate speech.
“This is especially confronting in the midst of a wave of attacks and threats against the Jewish community in Sydney.”
Everyone has the right to feel safe in their workplace and in their community.
The IEU, along with the broader union movement, opposes all forms of hate speech, bigotry and racism.
“I think our members in these schools have been on edge and uneasy and, in fact, whole school communities have been uneasy for some months,” said Matthews in an interview with ABC News.
NSW Education Minister Prue Car said her department has been in regular contact with independent schools, and has offered government assistance, including increased security.
“What we are seeing across Sydney is frightening, especially for Jewish members of the community, when childcare centres and schools are targets, it is abhorrent,” Car said.
Federal Early Childhood Education and Youth Minister Anne Aly told ABC News she had spoken to members of the Jewish community.
“They are fearful,” Aly said. “They are fearful of their children going to school, and I understand that fear. My community has been there too.”
The union’s statement on the incidents was covered by a range of media outlets, including The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Digital, ABC News Breakfast, Radio National and Channel Nine.Matthews was also interviewed by ABC News and live on air on 2SM.
The IEU’s condemnation of the rise in antisemitic attacks was well-received by union members in Jewish schools. Feedback from members in these schools included:
- “It really made me feel supported and reassured to see our union taking a strong stance like this.”
- “It means a lot to have the support from IEU.”
- “It’s hard enough to be facing a classroom full of scared Jewish children every day – nice to know our union understands the atmosphere we are facing.”
- “It certainly did bring comfort during this difficult time. I have also been a member of the IEU for many years and think it is a wonderful organisation that does such important work to support educators.”
- “These events are creating fear but also bringing the best out of organisations and people.”
We are stronger together.