Australia’s education ministers have agreed to update the national curriculum to include teachings of the Holocaust, Jewish history and the contributions of Jewish Australians.

It follows concerns of rising antisemitism in the country, nearly a year after the Bondi Beach attack.

Our research, published by Monash University as a report in July, explores the role of Holocaust education in addressing antisemitism in Australia.

Our findings offer insights into the current issues with Holocaust education and how it can be taught well.

Holocaust education is already mandated in the high school history curricula in Victoria and New South Wales.

In 2025, we interviewed 22 educators, scholars and museum professionals who teach the Holocaust (mostly to non-Jewish audiences) in Australia. The interviews took place before the Bondi Beach attack on December 14 2025.

We selectively approached these participants, some who are researching Holocaust education itself. Many of the participants are also leading voices in the field.

Participants were asked to share their perspectives on the role of Holocaust education in addressing antisemitism in contemporary, multicultural societies, such as Australia.

Holocaust education is often treated as a natural response to antisemitism. This is because the Holocaust highlights the worst instance of allowing antisemitism to fester unaddressed.

In our interviews, participants broadly agreed the Holocaust should be taught as a historical subject in schools. However, many participants described Holocaust education as one tool among many, and insufficient on its own, in countering antisemitism.

Several educators raised concerns about the implications of relying on teaching the Holocaust as the only window into Jewish life for young........

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