The Herbert and Valmae Freilich Project for the Study of Bigotry has a proud history of over 20 years of activity. Formerly known as the Freilich Foundation, The Freilich Project draws on a broad range of knowledge and expertise from within the university sector and beyond. We aim to connect people to high quality research on bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination, and to promote and disseminate research- and evidence- based approaches to supporting social inclusion and diversity in all social and institutional settings.

The Freilich Project’s current activities include two annual public lectures—the Freilich Lecture on Bigotry and Tolerance, and the Alice Tay Lecture in Law and Human Rights—and various other academic and public-facing events.

The Project is also dedicated to building scholarly community and supporting researchers working on topics related to bigotry. Scholars whose research engages with the topics of bigotry, tolerance and social inclusion are welcome to join the Freilich Research Network, and to attend or present in the Freilich Research Webinar Series. The Freilich Project annually invites applications for its Early Career Researcher (ECR) Small Grants Scheme, which supports emerging scholars in the field, and for the Freilich-HRC Visiting Fellow Scheme.

The Freilich Project is currently led by Dr Melissa Lovell, an interpretive politics scholar interested in the political framing of Australian Indigenous Affairs policy. Dr Lovell is supported by The Project’s Advisory Board.

Learn more about the history of the Freilich Project.