UQ takes diversity award
The University of Queensland (UQ) has won a GLBTI inclusion award at the Diversity@Work Employment and Inclusion Awards.
UQ won the accolade for its work setting up a gay/straight Ally Network in the university which provides GLBTI staff and students a ‘safe zone’ to be themselves.
As part of the program — now running at UQ since 2004 — students and staff undertake diversity training and also display an Ally sign to publicly show that homophobia and heterosexism is not acceptable in the university.
The active Ally Network has 173 members across three campuses.
Now in its 10th year, the Diversity@Work awards recognise small and large companies, not-for-profit organisations and state government departments across Australia for inclusive practice.
Diversity@Work general manager Donna de Zwart said the awards are about celebrating organisations who have gone out of their way to embraced diversity in the workplace.
“One of the biggest changes we’ve seen in the last 10 years is how many organisations are now understanding that diversity is not just a HR strategy, but is an important and strategic business differentiator,” she said.
UQ is one of 12 universities across Australia to establish a gay/straight alliance network.
