An Open Letter to the Australian College of Midwives on Antisemitism
On 14 December 2025, a terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi targeted the Jewish community. The attack was publicly acknowledged as antisemitic.
One week later, on 21 December 2025, the Australian College of Midwives published a statement referring to a “National Day of Reflection,” stating opposition to “violence and hate in all forms,” without naming antisemitism. When Jewish women responded in the comments asking for antisemitism to be explicitly acknowledged, those comments were removed and commenting was disabled.
I contacted the Australian College of Midwives directly to explain why this response was harmful and to request that antisemitism be named clearly, the removed comments restored, and an apology issued. I followed up in writing with the letter below. I was subsequently advised that while the matter was escalated internally, the decision was made to leave the post unchanged.
I am publishing this letter as an open letter after private attempts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful. I do so in the interest of transparency, accountability, and the belief that professional bodies have a responsibility to respond with clarity and integrity when communities they represent are directly harmed.
Hello (Media Team Member),
Thank you again for speaking with me this morning. I appreciate the time you took to listen.
You asked what I believed should be done in relation to the ACM Instagram post on 21 December*. After further reflection, I would like to clearly outline my concerns and recommendations.
1. The comments should be restored.
The comments removed were predominantly from Jewish women expressing fear, grief, and lived experience. Silencing these voices compounds the harm already caused and communicates that Jewish pain is less legitimate or less welcome than others. These comments deserve to be visible and heard.
2. A formal apology is required.
An apology should acknowledge that the post demonstrated a lack of understanding and that its framing minimised the specific and real experiences of Jewish Australians. Generalised statements of regret are insufficient when a community has been directly harmed.
3. Antisemitism must be named explicitly and condemned clearly.
Condemning “hate in all forms” in response to an antisemitic attack is not neutral or inclusive. It is evasive. Antisemitism is a specific, well-documented form of racism with a long and violent history. Failing to name it obscures the reality of what occurred and denies Jewish people the recognition afforded to other groups when they are targeted.
Over the past two years, the ACM and many midwives have issued statements condemning Israeli government actions and expressing support for Gaza, frequently accompanied by assertions that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. If the reluctance to name antisemitism now stems from concern about being perceived as supporting Israel, that assumption needs to be examined.
Jewish people were targeted and killed in Australia for being Jewish. Naming and condemning antisemitism in this context is not a political endorsement. It is a moral obligation. If an organisation cannot clearly condemn antisemitism when Jewish people are attacked, it is reasonable to question whether unconscious bias or institutional antisemitism is at play.
I am raising this not to inflame, but because professional bodies have a responsibility to respond with clarity, courage, and integrity, especially when one of the communities they represent is directly harmed.
Thank you for considering this feedback. I would welcome a response outlining how the ACM intends to address these concerns.
Kind regards,
Jennifer Hazi
Registered and Endorsed Midwife.
* The original email contained a typographical error referencing “21 October.” This was corrected in a follow-up email, and the intent of the correspondence was clear from context.
