Pride in Sport

Through sport at UWA, we endeavour to provide an inclusive and diversified space whereby all students, staff and community members can come together in a safe and respectful environment. We are committed to celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community through our values to encourage and support equity, fairness and inclusiveness in all that we do.

UWA Sport celebrates diversity of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and intersex status. We affirm The Darlington Statement and advocate working with intersex-led organisations. We acknowledge the barriers experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community, and we are passionate about providing a safe space for everyone to lead happy, healthy and active lives.

All Welcome, Always; a short film about UWA Sport's commitment to our LGBTQIA+ students, staff and community members.

What we are doing

Empowering LGBTQIA+ Ambassadors and Ally Ambassadors
Designing the LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Sport Policy
Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Days of Significance
Taking part in the Pride in Sport Index
Establishing partnerships with community organisations to enable participation from LGBTQIA+ communities
Organising LGBTQIA+ training and education opportunities for the community

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Ambassadors

Ian (he/him) is a male elite netballer and coach, and forms a part of the Inclusive Sport Champion Program, supporting the implementation of inclusive practices in sport at UWA. He has applied his passion for social equality in sport to removing gender-specific titles in sporting competitions and bringing diverse people together to participate in safe, welcoming and inclusive sporting environments.

Kristina Mitsikas standing in front of Winthrop Hall

Kristina (she/her) is the Senior Manager - Inclusion at UWA Sport. With extensive experience working within the diversity and inclusion space across both local government and not for profit environments, Kristin is is a positive advocate for social inclusion and an active ally for people with diverse sexualities and genders. Kristina and her team play a major role in influencing our direction in Inclusion and, along with the broader UWA Sport Team, are committed to providing a safe, open and welcoming environment for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Partnerships

Pride in Sport

Pride in Sport was founded by ACON Health and is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community. UWA Sport is pleased to join the Pride in Sport program, making an ongoing commitment to the development and enhancement of the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in sport at UWA.

You can find out more about the Pride in Sport program here.

Welcome Here

The Welcome Here Project supports businesses and services throughout Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities. Members receive the Welcome Here rainbow stickers and charter to display in a prominent place to let everyone know that LGBTIQ diversity is welcomed and celebrated within their business.

You can find out more about Welcome Here here.

Support services

If you are seeking additional support in the space of LGBTQIA+ inclusion, we encourage you to reach out to:

UWA Guild Pride Department
Provides social and supportive networks for students who identify as LGBTQIA+.

UWA Ally Program
Trains allies to empower inclusivity on campus by promoting visibility and awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues.

ACON (1800 063 060)
Provides counselling and social work support to help people resolve complex or ongoing violence and harassment matters.

QLIFE (1800 184 527)
Provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships

Lifeline (131 444)
Provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis access to 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Contact Us

For additional information or guidance regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport at UWA, including if you identify as LGBTQIA+ and have concerns associated with your participation in sport at UWA, you can confidentially contact our Inclusion Team.

Kristina Mitsikas (she/her)
LGBTQIA+ Ally
Senior Manager - Inclusion
[email protected]
+61 8 6488 2335

Zee Schorsch (he/they)
LGBTQIA+ Community Member and Ally
Inclusion Coordinator
[email protected]
+61 8 6488 3651