Hon. Michael Kirby (centre with folder) and PID foundation members launch PID in Febuary 2010.

The groundbreaking Pride in Diversity program is changing Australian workplaces...

Just over 12 months ago at the launch of the LGBT workplace equality initiative Pride in Diversity, Program Director Dawn Hough wondered what the reaction would be among staff at the various high-profile corporations which were signing up as members of the program.

She soon had her answer.

Arriving at work one day, Dawn found her email inbox jammed with over 40 emails of thanks and congratulations from the staff at one particular organisation after it had announced to its employees it was adopting Pride in Diversity's workplace policies.

"It really was a case of people expressing pride in their organisation for taking such a stand," says Ms Hough.

"I get a lot of people writing and calling saying the same thing - ‘no company has ever done this for us before' - and what that does for the company in terms of staff loyalty is enormous."

Pride In Diversity was launched in February 2010 by ACON in partnership with Diversity Council Australia and the London-based advocacy group, Stonewall UK.

The program aims to bridge the gap between LGBT employees and management by helping introduce human resource and diversity policies that specifically support LGBT staff.

"Pride In Diversity is not about getting people to come out in the workplace, it's about creating a hassle-free and safe work environment, and what that does is get rid of the anxiety and fear of discrimination that some people live with throughout their careers," says Ms Hough.

Victorian WorkCover Authority research shows that up to 60 per cent of LGBT people experience some form of harassment in the workplace during their careers, four times the rate of the general population.

Since launching, the Pride in Diversity team has conducted almost 30 training sessions and seminars in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, and now counts some of Australia's biggest corporate names among its membership including Chevron, Accenture, PWC, Suncorp, American Express, IBM, KPMG, Telstra, Goldman Sachs, JBWere and Lend Lease as well as the Department of Defence and the Australian Federal Police.

"Some of the feedback we've had has been phenomenal," Dawn says.

"The lack of awareness of why this is important is quite prolific, but once you talk to HR managers, there is suddenly an understanding."

Former High Court judge, the Hon. Michael Kirby, has also taken on the role of Pride in Diversity's new patron.

"Australians in sexual minorities are everywhere and I honour the employers who set a good example by adopting policies of equality and acceptance," Mr Kirby says.

Mr Kirby, Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham and several high profile CEOs will be guest speakers at the inaugural Pride In Diversity Business Luncheon which will include a presentation of the first ever awards for Australia's top 10 employers for LGBT people.

"The awards will provide a terrific new platform for organisations to highlight the quality of their diversity practice and for people to network with leaders from the both the public and private sectors," Ms Hough says.

The Pride In Diversity Business Luncheon and Awards will take place on Tue 17 May at the Sydney Hilton's Glass Restaurant.

Click here for more information on the event and how to book a table.

More info

Tel: (02) 9206 2136
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088
Fax: (02) 9206 2002
Email: pid@prideindiversity.com.au
Web: www.prideindiversity.com.au