The health and social implications of racism during Covid-19: Insights from Melbourne’s multicultural communities

The health, social, and economic uncertainties that accompany crisis events make them fertile ground for racism, as observed on a global scale during the COVID-19 pandemic, with evidence of significant social and health consequences for those targeted. In this article, we present the findings of a reflexive, interpretive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 10 service providers and community leaders who have supported multicultural communities during the pandemic in Melbourne, Australia. Interviewees discussed numerous social and health equity consequences of pandemic-related racism and offered best-practice recommendations for policy, research, and advocacy. Drawing on Systemic Racism Theory, our analysis reveals significant social and health implications of racism in Melbourne during COVID-19, lending further support to the concept of racism as both a social determinant of health and a key driver of social inequity. Participants advocated collaborative, community-led antiracism and advocacy approaches that centre the knowledge and expertise of people with lived experience of racism. These recommendations are discussed with consideration of contemporary challenges in research, policy, and practice efforts to address the ongoing health and social equity issues facing multicultural communities in times of crisis.