LGBTI inclusive workplace award

A New South Wales aged services provider has been honoured for achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex workplace inclusion.

By Natasha Egan

A New South Wales aged services provider has taken out a national award for a charity with a work environment inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) employees. 

UnitingCare Ageing NSW/ACT won the inaugural Not-for-Profit/Charity Award for LGBTI Workplace Inclusion at the 2013 Pride in Diversity Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) awards and came a close second for the most improved employer.

Pride In Diversity program director Dawn Hough commended UnitingCare Ageing for its inclusive workplace. 

“Not only did UnitingCare win the award for charities but it was second in line for the most improved organisation, which is a phenomenal achievement,” Ms Hough said.

Pride in Diversity is an Australian not-for-profit workplace program designed to assist Australian employers with the inclusion of LGBTI employees. 

The AWEI is a free annual service evaluating and benchmarking LGBTI inclusiveness in Australian workplaces.

It’s the third year awards have been given but the first time for the not-for-profit category.

UnitingCare Ageing director Steve Teulan said UnitingCare had a deep commitment to social equality and was very proud to receive the award.

“Last year we appointed a LGBTI Project Officer to reach out to older people from the LGBTI communities to help the organisation better meet their needs and to also promote cultural awareness among our staff,” Mr Teulan said.

“We are now recruiting LGBTI Champions throughout the organisation and we have already had enthusiastic staff register their interest.”

Mr Teulan said they looked forward to building on partnerships it has made with LBGTI health and community service organisations.

The partnerships have been vital in beginning to break down the barriers for the LGBTI community in dealing with faith-based organisations and accessing community and health care services, he said.

“We have a real opportunity to give a voice to the needs of this community as well as creating opportunities for improvements in our own service delivery and employment practises,” Mr Teulan said.

Elsewhere at the award ceremony in Sydney, which is held annually on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, Accenture Australia was named the LGBTI employer of the year.

The awards provide a valuable platform for organisations to highlight the quality of their LGBTI workplace diversity practices as well as provide a national benchmark on what organisations are doing in this space, Ms Hough said.

In ranking order the remainder of the top 10 Australian employers for LGBTI people were PwC, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, IBM Australia, Chevron Australia, Curtin University, Westpac Group, The University of Western Australia and Lend Lease.

Participation for the annual awards was up 65 per cent this year and involved over 3000 employees, making gaining entry to the top 10 a difficult process, Ms Hough said.

“Pride In Diversity congratulates all the organisations recognised today on their significant achievement and for showing great leadership in the area of diversity and inclusion.”

2013 LGBTI workplace inclusion award winners:

  • Employer of the Year – Accenture
  • LGBTI Employee Network of the Year – BFS assorts – Macquarie Banking & Financial Services Group
  • Highest Ranking University – Curtin University 
  • Highest Ranking Public Sector Organisation – Australian Federal Police
  • Achievement Award for Most Improved – National Australia Bank 
  • Regional/Rural Award for LGBTI Workplace Inclusion* – Northern Rivers Social Development Council
  • Small Employer Award for LGBTI Workplace Inclusion* – Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
  • Not-for-Profit/Charity Award for LGBTI Workplace Inclusion* – UnitingCare Ageing NSW/ACT

*Awards introduced for the first time this year

Tags: australian-workplace-equality-index, lgbti, pride-in-diversity, UnitingCare Ageing NSW & ACT,

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