May 29, 2019

UOW honoured for LGBTI inclusion

University wins bronze at Australian LGBTI Inclusion Awards

The University of Wollongong was named among the nation’s most inclusive employers at the Australian LGBTI Inclusion Awards on Friday, 24 May.

UOW achieved bronze recognition at the event, which celebrated and awarded Australia’s top organisations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex inclusion, run by the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

The University improved its standing this year, moving up a tier in the awards rankings from a participating employer to a bronze employer.

UOW’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, said the University was committed to LGBTI inclusion, for both academic and professional staff, and was thrilled to be involved in the Australian Workplace Equality Index initiative.

“UOW is delighted to have received a Bronze award and to be recognised as a leader in this space,” Professor Wellings said.

“Inclusion is critical to an organisation’s success and crucial for society as a whole, and we are working to ensure that message is conveyed to staff and students.

“This is a step in the right direction, and we will work to maintain tempo in workforce diversity policy and practice.”

The award highlights positive changes being implemented across UOW and the progress being made.

UOW has implemented policies, strategies and initiatives to best support and include staff and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. The energetic and effective Ally Network at UOW brings together staff and students to improve awareness and support the LGBTI community. At UOW Ally organises a program of events at various campuses including the annual Chalk Rainbow.

UOW was among a small number of universities recognised at the award ceremony in Sydney.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

Participating in the Australian Workplace Equality Index benchmarking assessment demonstrates a commitment to LGBTI inclusion.

Bronze recognition is a level of achievement that organisations can be proud of and should not be underestimated in comparison to other levels of recognition. It will often take an organisation several years or more to achieve this standard.

Employers that receive the Bronze award are considered active in LGBTI inclusion as compared to the national benchmark.

The rankings are based on evidence including survey results. The AWEI surveys employees in participating organisations to set a comparative benchmark.

Image caption: Rainbow art at the Wollongong campus, a symbol that the University is a place where everyone can belong.