The government-funded Legal Aid agency in NSW has been accused of racism and discrimination by a number of its own employees.
Lawyers Sarah Ibrahim, Jayne Christian and Tendayi Chivunga say they experienced racism while working at Legal Aid NSWThe acting CEO of Legal Aid NSW emailed the organisation's Aboriginal Staff Network and acknowledged discrimination within the organisation
Egyptian-born lawyer Sarah Ibrahim, who has worked for Legal Aid for over a decade, has decided to blow the whistle on her employer, saying the organisation poses a serious risk for racial minorities. Last year, two Aboriginal staff members from Legal Aid's Newcastle office lodged official complaints detailing allegations of racism.
Despite the review's 17 recommendations to enhance inclusion, eight out of 12 Aboriginal employees have since left the Newcastle office. A former Legal Aid solicitor who also worked at the Newcastle office told 7.30 she believes she was racially targeted while working in the organisation in 2015. She recalled an incident at a work function when the colleague told her to "bugger off" when the office team was posing for a photograph.
"He began to abuse me quite viciously, to the point where the staff had to call security and have him removed from the premises," she said. Legal Aid NSW told 7.30 that it does not tolerate discrimination, treats allegations seriously, and takes action. Professor Chelsea Watego, who studies race and inequality, says it can be shocking for many people to hear about allegations of racism in an organisation like Legal Aid, which is focused on social justice.
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