What we heard

Thank you for your feedback

Council has adopted the Antisemitism Strategy 2026-28.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback on the draft Antisemitism Strategy.

The development of the Strategy involved three phases of engagement, including workshops, community network meetings and a Community Voice survey, before the draft was released for broad community consultation.

Across all stages of the project, 413 people shared their views. During the public consultation period, 151 participants provided feedback that helped shape the final Strategy and Action Plan, which was adopted by Council at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 1 September 2026.

The Strategy sets out Council's approach to preventing and responding to antisemitism while supporting a safe, welcoming and inclusive community.

  • Three consultation phases

    We heard from 413 people across all three phases and consulted with:

    • the broad community
    • Jewish leaders and groups
    • community organisations
    • Community Voice members
    • Monash University
    • committees and stakeholders.

  • Broad community engagement

    151 participants shared feedback on the draft Strategy through:

    • surveys
    • workshops
    • interviews
    • written submissions.

  • Strategy adopted

    Now it's time for us to:

    • support awareness and education
    • provide leadership and civic responsibility
    • build systems to help prevent and respond to antisemitism.

    Read our action plan here. 

What we heard

There was strong support for Council taking an active role in preventing and responding to antisemitism (84 per cent).

Participants showed broad support for the Strategy's three focus areas:

  • Prevention and education

    - 80 per cent support

  • Leadership and civic responsibility

    - 77 per cent support

  • Policy and systems

    - 74 per cent support

At the same time, a proportion of respondents raised concerns about the distinction between antisemitism, criticism of Israel and the application of the IHRA definition (21 per cent). Some participants asked whether antisemitism should be a standalone strategy or within a broader anti-racism framework (18 per cent).

How your feedback was used

The engagement findings have directly informed refinement of the Antisemitism Strategy and Action Plan in the following areas:

  • Practical, visible action

    Feedback highlighted a strong expectation that the Strategy be practical, visible and capable of delivering meaningful outcomes.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to


    • provide clearer and more detailed action descriptions
    • increase the focus on the outcomes the actions will achieve

  • Prevention and education

    Education was the most recurring priority, with participants describing it as the most effective long-term measure to prevent antisemitism. Feedback emphasised the importance of partnering with specialist providers to deliver education across schools, community organisations and the broader community.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to:

    • define intended audiences and key topics for training and awareness
    • focus on our role as a connector, advocate and partner.

  • Jewish identity and diversity

    Feedback highlighted the importance of the diverse, local Jewish communities and their contributions. We heard about the impacts of antisemitism and the desire for positive inclusion and connection.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to:

    • highlight the diversity of Jewish identities and lived experience
    • recognise Jewish cultural contributions

  • Broader social cohesion and anti-racism work

    While many participants supported a targeted response to antisemitism, others emphasised the importance of ensuring this work sits within a broader commitment to addressing racism, discrimination and community division.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to:

    • explain how addressing antisemitism contributes to the broader community
    • commit to a future Social Cohesion Strategy
    • expand events to encourage cross-cultural connection.

  • Reporting and response

    Participants asked for clearer guidance on how to identify and report incidents.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to:

    • focus on Council's response to incidents as timely, visible and proportionate
    • share clearer information to guide community to support services.

  • Community safety and public spaces

    Participants sought more tangible actions that would contribute to community safety in public spaces, graffiti and hate symbols, safety in community settings and the need for coordinated responses during incidents.

    We updated the Strategy and Action Plan to:

    • better acknowledge the impacts of antisemitism on participation in community life
    • focus on practical improvements such as lighting and passive surveillance.

Learn more

You can read the full Strategy and Action Plan here:

To learn more about how we consulted the community on these documents, read our engagement report.

How we engaged

Help shape our response to antisemitism

Glen Eira is a diverse and proud community, and we want everyone to feel safe, respected and included. As the level of government closest to the community, Council plays a key role in supporting wellbeing, social cohesion and participation.

In response to a local rise in antisemitism, Council committed to developing a dedicated Antisemitism Strategy, recognising that existing anti-discrimination approaches were no longer sufficient.

The draft Strategy and Action Plan sets out a focused two-year plan (2026–28) to strengthen community safety, inclusion and belonging for Jewish residents and the wider community, while building a stronger foundation for future social cohesion efforts.

We invite you to share your feedback on the draft Strategy and Action Plan.

Ways to share your feedback

Feedback for this project is now closed. Below are the ways we sought feedback:

Have your say by Sunday 28 June 2026

For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.🔍

Why we're developing an Antisemitism Strategy?

  • Glen Eira's Jewish population

    Glen Eira is proud to be home to Victoria’s largest Jewish population. More than 17 per cent of our residents identify as Jewish - that's around 25,585 people.

  • Rise in antisemitism

    Since late 2023, antisemitic incidents have risen sharply. In 2025, 564 incidents were recorded across Victoria—the highest on record—with 240 (43%) occurring in Glen Eira. This highlights that antisemitism is a significant local issue and there is a need to do more to support an inclusive and safe Glen Eira.

  • Safety is a priority

    We want to reassure our Jewish community and our broader community that their safety and wellbeing is an urgent priority.

  • Social cohesion for all

    Council has long championed multiculturalism, interfaith harmony and anti‑discrimination. This Strategy recognises that addressing antisemitism also helps tackle other forms of racism and is part of Council’s broader work on inclusion and social cohesion.

​Privacy collection notice

Glen Eira City Council is committed to protecting the personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). The privacy collection notice explains the purpose for which information is collected, and how we will use and handle the information. You can view the privacy collection notice for this project here: Privacy Collection Notice.