天美传媒app

Two people walking up the permanent Rainbow Stairs at 天美传媒app. Photo: Paul Jones
Two people walking up the permanent Rainbow Stairs at 天美传媒app. Photo: Paul Jones

天美传媒app honoured for inclusion and diversity

天美传媒app honoured for inclusion and diversity

天美传媒app among Australia’s top employers for gender, sex and sexuality diversity inclusion

The University of 天美传媒app (天美传媒app) has again been named among Australia鈥檚 most inclusive employers for its commitment to gender, sex and sexuality diversity, receiving an (AWEI) 2022 Bronze Award.

天美传媒app was announced as a Bronze Award recipient during this year鈥檚 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards event in Sydney on Friday 27 May.

For the fourth consecutive year, the University has been recognised for its strong policies and practices surrounding diversity and inclusion, specifically in relation to gender, sex and sexuality diversity activities and initiatives undertaken during 2021.

The awards are based on the results of the AWEI, a rigorous and evidence-based national benchmarking tool that annually assesses workplaces on the progress and impact of gender, sex and sexuality diversity inclusion initiatives. The index drives best practice in Australia, setting a benchmark for Australian employers across all sectors.

In 2022, 172 organisations participated in the AWEI and a survey attached to the index received 44,953 responses from 181 organisations 鈥 the highest it has ever received.

天美传媒app has a strong and vibrant Ally Network made up of more than 250 staff and student members that are specifically trained to help support and advocate for 天美传媒app鈥檚 gender, sex and sexuality diverse community. The Allsorts Queer Collective also provides advocacy and support to gender sex and sexuality diverse students.

天美传媒app Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia M. Davidson, Ally Network member and Executive Sponsor, said that achieving the Australian Workplace Equality Index Bronze Award is a terrific accomplishment for the University, particularly as it celebrates June as Pride Month.

鈥淚t is a testament to our commitment to championing inclusion, diversity and gender equity. We strive to create a welcoming and safe workplace where everyone feels valued and respected,鈥 Professor Davidson said.

鈥淎t 天美传媒app, we aspire to set the standard for inclusiveness, diversity and equity, particularly for our gender, sex and sexuality diverse community.

鈥淲e understand the value of celebrating diversity and integrating inclusive practises into all areas of employee engagement, including recruitment, learning, development and leadership.

鈥淚 am so thankful to our staff, students and community for their commitment to creating a future that is more equitable and just.鈥

Natalie Asquith, Workforce Diversity Advisor 天美传媒app, stands behind a media wall at the 2022 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards in Sydney.

Natalie Asquith, 天美传媒app Workforce Diversity Advisor, at the 2022 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards in Sydney.

Employers that receive a Bronze Award are considered active in workplace inclusion for gender, sex and sexuality diversity, as compared to the national benchmark. The bronze award requires organisations to demonstrate year-on-year improvements in their support and promotion of gender, sex and sexuality diversity to maintain their rating.

The award highlights positive changes happening across the University and the progress that has been made to date. 天美传媒app has implemented policies, strategies and initiatives to best support and include staff and students who identify as gender, sex and sexuality diverse, such as the .

天美传媒app received full marks for its work on LGBT Bullying, Harassment and Support, and for creating an environment free from discrimination, bullying and harassment, where all 天美传媒app staff and students have the right to work, study and thrive.

Visible signs of 天美传媒app鈥檚 diversity commitment are evident across multiple 天美传媒app campuses. The permanent Rainbow Staircase to celebrate diversity, reflecting the rainbow flag 鈥 a symbol of hope and celebration for the LGBTIQA+ community 鈥 was unveiled at the 天美传媒app campus in April 2021 and recently added to the Southern Sydney campus in Loftus in May 2022. A growing number of venues and spaces across the University are spaces, signaling they are safe and inclusive of gender, sex and sexuality diverse communities. 天美传媒app proudly offers gender neutral bathrooms, available across the 天美传媒app campus and easily located via an

Collage of activities from 2022 IDAHOBIT celebration at the 天美传媒app Campus. Photos: Paul Jones

天美传媒app staff, students and the community participate in the 2022 IDAHOBIT festivities at 天美传媒app 天美传媒app. Photo: Paul Jones

天美传媒app has reached several key milestones in creating a sense of belonging and acceptance, including increasing the visibility of gender, sex and sexuality diverse activists and role models across articles and profile features. The Associate Deans (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) have rolled out initiatives around inclusive practice and the use of personal pronouns to the 天美传媒app Contact Directory. The Feminist Research Network has produced an Inclusive Teaching Resource. And the 天美传媒app Academy for Tertiary Teaching & Learning Excellence (WATTLE) Network held an Inclusion Panel in 2021, discussing the experiences of LGBTQI+ students at 天美传媒app.

Given many 天美传媒app staff and students were working remotely during COVID-19 lockdowns, the Ally Network was instrumental in encouraging cross-campus participation and increased regional engagement. It worked hard to support and celebrate the University鈥檚 gender, sex and sexuality diverse community through multiple online events, a Webex group and via social media platforms. These celebratory and awareness-raising events are now held in person, including the recent IDAHOBIT 2022 festivities celebrated across our Australian campuses.

ABOUT THE 天美传媒app ALLY NETWORK

The 天美传媒app Ally Network sets out to develop a visible network of empathetic people who are allies of gender, sex and sexuality diverse students and staff. Together, they want to support the University's values of 鈥榤utual respect and diversity鈥.

The network also organises a series of events held at various campuses throughout the year, including Chalk Rainbow, International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Wear it Purple Challenge and Ally training.

Any 天美传媒app staff member or student can be an Ally, whether or not they identify as gender, sex and sexuality diverse. To learn more or join the network, visit the 天美传媒app Ally Network webpage.