Gari Yala 2 (Speak the Truth) Full Report: Centreing the Work Experiences of Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2025-2026

Gari Yala 2 (Speak the Truth) is a 2026 research report from the Centre for Indigenous People and Work at the University of Technology Sydney. It is Australia's only national workplace survey led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. More than 1,100 Indigenous workers shared their experiences for this second edition, which builds on the original 2020 Gari Yala report.

The report finds that racism and lack of cultural safety remain common in Australian workplaces. Cultural safety means being able to express your cultural identity at work without fear of discrimination or ridicule. Only 40% of respondents said their workplace was culturally safe. More than half experienced racism on a recurring basis, including racial slurs, inappropriate assumptions, and having their Indigenous identity questioned or dismissed.

A key finding is the scale of unpaid work that Indigenous employees are expected to do because of their identity. This includes educating colleagues, managing cultural events, and advising on reconciliation programs, all on top of their regular jobs. The report estimates that one in two full-time Indigenous workers will spend at least an extra year of unpaid work over a 50-year career.

The report also shows that organisations taking meaningful action do get better results. Workplaces with formal racism complaint procedures and anti-discrimination training reported significantly lower rates of racism. But these are among the least commonly implemented measures in Australian workplaces today.

Gari Yala 2 is most useful for employers, HR and diversity practitioners, policymakers, and anyone involved in Indigenous employment or workplace inclusion programs.