Advance Diversity Services has been chosen as a Silver Service provider in the inaugural 2022 Australian Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards announced on March 30.
The awards event celebrated exceptional efforts in improving LGBTQ inclusion within health and wellbeing organisations across the country.
It was produced by Pride in Health + Wellbeing, the national not-for-profit inclusion program for the health, wellbeing, human services, and community care sector, spearheaded by Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation ACON.
Claire Allen, National Program Manager of Pride in Health + Wellbeing said: “As our diverse LGBTQ communities continue to face a number of shared and distinct health and social inclusion issues, providers across the board and across the country are demonstrating that they are stepping up to take action to address barriers our communities face in accessing help and support.
“It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the many achievements that have been made in the greater inclusion of LGBTQ people so that our communities can see where progress is being made.”
ADS Chief Executive Officer, Antoinette Chow said she was proud ADS was named as a Silver Service provider along with the Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (NADA) and WAYSS homeless support program.
“ADS’s commitment to improving access and equity for people who identify with a diverse gender and/or sexuality is both deep and unwavering – and it is good to have our commitment affirmed through this award.
“A recent initiative taken by ADS to foster LGBTQ health and inclusion was working with ACON to expand and update the Multicultural LGBTIQA+ Support Directory – a vital resource for a CALD LGBTIQA+ person to find services and groups that can support their wellbeing.
“We also partnered with Queer Screen to host a subsidised screening of the Australian premiere of The First Girl I Loved as part of the Mardi Gras Film Festival in 2022 – an event I think was beneficial to people’s mental health.”
Michael Ebeid AM, Co Patron of Pride in Health + Wellbeing, said, “Over the last few years, the status and size of the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI) has grown, and it’s exciting to see this event branch out into its own celebration of excellence in LGBTQ Health.
“This not only gives a voice to inclusion within the health and wellbeing sector but increases the visibility and importance of inclusion across the various services within the community, care and human services sectors.”
Inaugural award categories and their recipients were:
- Service Provider of the Year – cohealth
- Most improved Service Provider of the Year – Drug & Alcohol Services Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
- LGBTQ Inclusive Innovation – Trans and Gender Diverse Healthcare Training Project – St Vincent’s Hospital Network Sydney
- LGBTQ Out Role Model – Erin Heine – Central Coast Local Health District
- LGBTQ Ally – Jason Van Ritten – Central Coast Local Health District
- Gold Service Providers – cohealth Uniting Vic.Tas
- Silver Service Providers – Advance Diversity Services,
Network of Alcohol & Other Drugs Agencies (NADA), Wayss - Bronze Service Providers – Australian College of Applied Professions: Clinic (ACAP) City Fertility
Drug & Alcohol Services Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District - Flourish Australia Relationships Australia (NSW) + one not for publication