Pride in Practice conference explored ways to strengthen inclusion

UNSW recently participated in the 15th annual Pride in Practice conference, the only national conference dedicated to advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion in Australian workplaces.

The event spotlighted LGBTQIA+ inclusion, with key themes focusing on intersectionality, women, trans and gender diverse people, First Nations, resilience and international reach. 

The three-day conference was packed with engaging and thought-provoking sessions. Defence Counsellor, UNSW Canberra, Lisa Shirt was one of the UNSW participants. She said the attendees are now looking forward to exploring how to bring their learnings to our community.

“UNSW’s attendance provided us with valuable insights and ideas to shape the future of LGBTQIA+ staff and student inclusion at UNSW. We eagerly anticipate turning these ideas into tangible realities for our staff and students,” she said.

Lived experience and visible networks

Key learnings from the conference included the importance of championing people with lived experience and using their insights to shape understanding, policy and frameworks. 

UNSW’s Students as Partners Consultative Group and EDI Staff Consultative Group are fundamental ways to ensure we are actively listening to our community on issues that affect them.

The conference also emphasised the value of a visible Ally Network, which UNSW is proud to see reflected in our ally@UNSW Network.

Get involved

You can get involved with key inclusion initiatives at UNSW in 2024. 

Both the staff and student consultative groups meet regularly throughout the year and are a great way get feedback on your projects from people with a range of lived experiences. 

The ally@UNSW Network is made up of students and staff who have completed the required three-hour ally@UNSW training. The training runs each term and provides a safe space to learn about the lived experience of people from LGBTQIA+ communities, with a particular focus on university environments.

The Division of EDI will share information on dates of training and meetings for the ally@UNSW network and the staff and student consultative groups in early 2024 here in Inside UNSW and on the EDI website – stay tuned!