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Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Queensland’s commitment to inclusivity and support for the LGBTIQ+ community has been recognised with a prestigious Pride in Diversity national award.  

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ has been recognised with a Silver Employer ranking in the 2019 Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), which is the definitive national benchmark for LGBTIAQ+ inclusion in the workplace.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Ally Executive Champion Professor Doune Macdonald said the award positioned Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ as one of Australia’s highest performing employers for LGBTIAQ+ inclusion.

“Silver recognition is awarded to organisations that have scored in the top 10 to 20 per cent of employers nationally,” Professor Macdonald said.

“We have been working hard to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for gender, sex and sexually diverse people at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­.

“Our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Workplace Diversity and Inclusion training program has created knowledge, awareness and strong linkages across the University and out into the community.”

Professor Macdonald said Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ had participated in the since its inception in 2010.

“We’ve run workshops available to all staff, including targeted training to key areas of the University; we’ve provided the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Senior Management Group with LGBTIAQ+ inclusion training, and our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Ally Executive Champions help to provide strategic direction.

“Along with my colleague Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Dunne, I’m extremely proud to be an Executive Champion.”

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ has hosted several high profile events to raise awareness of LGBTIAQ+ days of significance, and the visibility and hard work of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Ally Network with leadership from the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Ally Action Committee has continued to affirm gender parity in the workplace.

The AWEI requires organisations to complete an audit of all LGBTIAQ+ inclusion work undertaken in the previous year, which is assessed by Pride in Diversity to develop the national index.

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s policies and guidelines including ; and and community engagement are important documents.

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ was named in the top 10 employers in Australia in 2011, and received Bronze recognition in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Media: Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, 07 3365 1120.