- - The Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has condemned an incident during an online VCE exam-preparation session on 27 August, in which Jewish students were left distressed after a participant initiated a Free Palestine chant during a Q&A session on Zoom. - The session, organised for year 12 students studying Texts and Traditions in Victoria, was disrupted when one student said Free Palestine and several others unmuted themselves to join in, causing commotion. - Following the chant, an image of Palestine was posted in the Zoom chat and received heart reactions; a Jewish student reported that earlier emojis had been promptly deleted by organisers, while the Palestine image remained visible. - The student who contacted the ADC stated that the adults running the session failed to address the disruption, issue any warnings, or enforce the event's stated rules about inappropriate comments, and simply continued the Q&A. - ADC Chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich condemned the organisers' inaction, stating that Jewish students are already living with heightened fear and that the silence from those in charge sent a message that Jewish students' safety and wellbeing were invisible.
The Anti-Defamation Commission, Australia’s leading organisation fighting antisemitism since 1979, has deplored a political disruption during an online VCE exam-preparation session after year 12 Jewish students were left hurt and shaken when a participant turned a Q&A into a “Free Palestine” chant.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, August 27, during a Texts and Traditions Exam Preparation Evening held by Zoom for students in Victoria.
According to the event material, the session was designed to help students prepare for their exam, with briefings from the Assistant Chief Assessor, a successful 2025 student and specialists from each text. The event information also stated that inappropriate chat or comments would lead to the automatic removal of a student from the session.
The ADC understands that after the formal briefings, the floor was opened to student questions. After several questions, one student asked if they could add something further. When allowed to speak, the student said: “Free Palestine.” The ADC has been told that several classmates then unmuted themselves and joined in saying “Free Palestine,” creating commotion in the session.
The Jewish student who contacted the ADC said the adults running the session did not address the incident, did not warn students about inappropriate political slogans, and continued the Q&A.
The student also said that after the incident, an image of Palestine was posted in the Zoom chat and received several heart reactions. According to the student, earlier emojis posted by students at the beginning of the session were quickly deleted, while the Palestine image and heart reactions remained visible.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, issued the following statement:
“Even a VCE study session is no longer a safe place for Jewish students. Jewish students logged on to prepare for a VCE exam and instead, the session was hijacked by a political slogan. “Free Palestine” was thrown into the room, others joined in, a Palestine image appeared in the chat, hearts gathered beneath it, and Jewish students were left sitting there exposed, hurt and threatened. A VCE workshop must be a sanctuary for learning. After the Bondi massacre, in a country where young Jewish people already carry fear into schools, universities and public life, these moments strike hard. Slogans belong at rallies. The organisers had rules that inappropriate chat or comments could lead to removal. But when Jewish students needed those rules, they vanished. The Q&A continued and the silence from the adults in charge became the loudest message of the night. That is how Jewish students are made to feel invisible.”
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The Anti-Defamation Commission is Australia's leading civil rights organisation that since 1979 has been fighting antisemitis, Holocaust denial and distortion and all forms of hatred.
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Dr Dvir Abramovich
