A Celebration of Inclusivity: Honouring the 2024 Australian Pride in Sport Awards Recipients

Macquarie University Sport, Hockey Australia, NBL, Touch Football Australia and Tennis Australia are among a range of sporting organisations and individuals who have been named as the country’s best for LGBTQ+ inclusion at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards held last night in Melbourne.

Launched in 2018, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards is the first celebration of its kind dedicated solely to celebrating and acknowledging exceptional efforts in making Australian sport more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people. It is produced by Pride in Sport, the national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program spearheaded by Australia’s largest LGBTQ+ health organisation, ACON.

Winners of the 2024 Australian Pride in Sport Awards

In addition to sports clubs and organisations, members of the community, along with supportive allies across various sporting disciplines, were recognised for their endeavours in fostering inclusivity for LGBTQ+ individuals both within and beyond the realm of sports. (See below for complete list of award recipients.)

The awards showcase the results of the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) – a world-first national benchmarking instrument used to access LGBTQ+ inclusion within Australian sport.

“We’re incredibly proud to announce that this year’s PSI submissions have yielded the greatest results since the Index’s inception in 2016.” – Beau Newell, Pride in Sport National Program Manager

ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said: “Each year, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards contribute to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and the continuous efforts to create more inclusive sporting environments in arenas, fields, and stands.

“Since the establishment of the PSI and Awards, Australian sporting codes, organisations, and clubs have demonstrated their responsiveness to increasing demands and standards for inclusivity in sports. They are actively taking measures to ensure that an individual’s sexuality or gender identity does not hinder their ability to engage, observe, or contribute to sports at any level.”

“The growth that we see year on year in terms of participating clubs, organisations and codes is incredibly encouraging as it demonstrates an established focus on LGBTQ+ inclusion, zero tolerance of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.

“I extend my congratulations to all the individuals who have received awards and those who made it to the finals, as well as to the numerous others who are dedicated to fostering inclusivity in Australian sports. I take pride in acknowledging their collective endeavours and in commemorating the achievements highlighted at the Pride in Sport Awards,” Parkhill said.

The awards, hosted by Australian comedy legend Adam Hills, featured beloved Australian Idol alumni Emily Williams, as well as the much-anticipated award ceremony.

Pride in Sport National Manager Beau Newell said that the awards were a heartfelt celebration of the strides that have been made together in fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

“These awards are a testament to our collective journey towards inclusion, showcasing the incredible efforts of individuals, teams, and organisations across Australia,” Newell said. “This year marks a significant milestone for the PSI. We’re incredibly proud to announce that this year’s PSI submissions have yielded the greatest results since the Index’s inception in 2016.”

“Likewise, the calibre of award nominations is nothing short of remarkable. This achievement speaks volumes about the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in pushing the boundaries for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

“With society continuing to become more inclusive, there is a growing anticipation for sports to mirror the diverse makeup of our communities. There remains work to be done in guaranteeing that sports, both on and off the field, embrace inclusivity, ensuring that individuals feel valued and welcomed in the sports they cherish, just as they are. Every person possesses an inherent right to engage in sports.”

Newell added: “There’s still much work to be done, but together, we can continue to break down barriers and champion equality in sports. Being vulnerable, sharing your journeys, successes, and learnings is crucial in enhancing and improving the culture of our sports. Here’s to celebrating the progress we’ve made and to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.”

2024 Platinum Tier & Sporting Organisation of the Year: Macquarie University Sport

ENDS

2024 Pride in Sport Awards Recipients

Download Benchmarking Tables Download Awards Program

For more information please contact:

David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications
E: dalexander@acon.org.au   T: (02) 9206 2044   M: 0428 477 042

Thank you to our sponsors

ABOUT PRIDE IN SPORT

Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTI employees, players, volunteers and spectators. It is part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, which provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTI inclusion. All funds generated through membership and ticketed events go back into the work of Pride in Sport, actively working alongside sporting organisations, clubs and participants to make Australian sport inclusive of LGBTI communities. For more information, visit the Pride Inclusion Programs website here.

ABOUT THE PRIDE IN SPORT INDEX

The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that provides the opportunity for all national and state sporting organisations to have their LGBTI related initiatives, programs and policies reviewed, measured and monitored. An initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 (the world cup of gay rugby), it was developed alongside an advisory group that includes representatives from the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League (AFL), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Football Federation Australia (FFA), Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Basketball Australia and Golf Australia. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website here.