LGBTIQA+ awareness and Ally Network training plan

University renews major sponsorship of Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras – Charles Sturt Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health Professor Megan Smith, Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras organiser Ms Holly Conroy, Charles Sturt Lecturer in Physics Miss Matilda Kyle and Associate Professor in Social Work and Human Services Cate Thomas.

Charles Sturt University’s Ally Network was established in 2014. In recent years, our Ally Network has contributed to:

  • participation in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (2019, 2020, 2021), where we received Bronze Employer recognition in 2021
  • marking and celebrating key dates of significance to the LGBTIQA+ community
  • sponsoring and participating in regional LGBTIQA+ events
  • permanent signs of visibility on campus
  • continued advocacy and advancement of inclusion for our LGBTIQA+ students and staff.

In late 2019, Charles Sturt University joined Pride in Diversity, the national not-for-profit employer support program for LGBTIQA+ workplace inclusion specialising in human resources, organisational change, and workplace diversity. Through this membership, we have access to contemporary, evidence-based training and resources to ensure our training demonstrates best practice. Pride in Diversity also runs the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), Australia’s national benchmarking instrument for LGBTIQA+ workplace inclusion. As members of Pride in Diversity, our staff and students have access to various publications, resources and videos on inclusion.

At the end of 2020, we implemented a two-step training module to replace the previous training on this topic. Since the launch, 302 students and staff have completed the LGBTIQA+ Awareness module, and 231 have completed the Empowering Allies module.

Related SDG

  • 10. Reduced inequalities

Priority area

Related impact