Skate Australia has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of LGBTQ people.
ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.
Being a Pride in Sport member means changing practices and working towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders.
Skate Australia CEO, Dr. Caitlin Honey is excited about the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ inclusion for sport and recreation programs at Skate Australia.
“Skate Australia is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. We aim to further our inclusive practices so that everyone feels welcome,” Dr. Honey said.
“Skate Australia recently announced our strategic plan, a roadmap for our sport for the next five years where our organisation has pledged to increase its focus on inclusion and diversity.
“As well as encouraging diversity at all levels, our Plan makes a commitment to creating a welcoming environment, a sense of belonging and making Skate a place for all.
“We are honoured to join ACON Pride in Sport thanks to a generous donation made by McCullough Robertson Lawyers. Our membership to the program is made possible through their ACON diversity in the workplace program.
“This connection with McCullough Robertson Lawyers was part of the celebrations marking the 5 year anniversary since launching McColour, their LGBTQ Ally Network and we were pleased to be a part of these celebrations along with many of the firm’s clients,” Dr. Honey concluded.
Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQ people has never been more important.
“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Skate Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members across the nation” Newell said.
“Congratulations to Skate Australia for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.”