Awards Recognise Outstanding Achievements In LGBTQ+ Inclusive Service Delivery in Health and Wellbeing Sectors

A host of organisations from across the Australian health and wellbeing sectors have been recognised for their efforts in advancing inclusive service delivery for LGBTQ+ populations at the 2025 Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards.

Running for the fourth year, the awards event was live-streamed around Australia to celebrate the exceptional efforts of organisations and individuals across various categories for improving LGBTQ+ inclusive service delivery. The event is produced by Pride in Health + Wellbeing, the national not-for-profit LGBTQ+ inclusion program for the health and wellbeing sectors, led by Australia’s largest LGBTQ+ health organisation, ACON.

Leading the list of winners, St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney were awarded the top prize of Service Provider of the Year for the second consecutive year. Other top awardees include A Growing Understanding, cohealth, Burnside Hospital, Australian Community Support Organisation, Northern Sydney Local Health District and Reliant Healthcare.

The Awards showcase the results of the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI) Submissions – a free national benchmarking instrument used to assess organisational progress towards LGBTQ+ inclusive service delivery within the Australian health and wellbeing sectors against a set of national standards.

St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney and cohealth were awarded Platinum Tier Service Providers, becoming the program’s first ever recipients of this recognition for ongoing and consistent high performance against the HWEI Submission standards. The award for the Most Improved Service Provider went to Burnside Hospital.

The Awards also recognise individuals’ significant contribution to and advocacy for LGBTQ +inclusion for staff and service users, as nominated by peers.

The awards for Executive Leadership went to Matthew Kearny, Executive Director Mission & Health Equity at St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney. The Gender, Sex and Sexuality Project Team at Western Health received the award for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Innovation.

Eloise Brook delivered a keynote address to attendees in her role as Chief Executive Officer of AusPATH, Australia’s national peak body for the health, rights and wellbeing of all trans and non-binary people. ACON CEO Michael Woodhouse and Director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, Dawn Emsen-Hough, also addressed the winners, nominees and attendees.

The event was emceed by Francisco Lopez, National Health Lead – ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, who was joined to present the awards by Pride in Health + Wellbeing co-patron, leading doctor and LGBTQ+ health advocate Prof Keryn Phelps AM, Pride in Health + Wellbeing Senior Relationship Manager Daniel Comensoli, and Pride in Diversity Senior Relationship Manager Tidge Backhouse.

“We are seeing health and wellbeing organisations step up to support LGBTQ+ populations in a systematic way,” Lopez said. “The HWEI standards are reviewed regularly in response to changing practice, and this year we have seen a record number of organisations being recognised at higher tiers for the inclusive policies and practices they have embedded within their organisations.”

“With the advent of the Australian Government’s National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035, and with the ongoing work across States’ and Territories’ health and wellbeing systems, the organisations we have recognised this year are continuing to make significant change right across their organisations to ensure that LGBTQ+ people have trust in and access to the services they need in a safe and affirming way. Congratulations to all the winners and participating organisations.”

The Awards were sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

2025 Australian Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards Recipients

Award	Recipient
Service Provider of the Year	St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney
Platinum Tier Service Providers	cohealth  St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney
Gold Tier Service Providers	A Growing Understanding  Australian Community Support Organisation  Burnside Hospital  Northern Sydney Local Health District  Reliant Healthcare
Silver Tier Service Providers	NSW Health Pathology
Bronze Tier Service Providers	Brophy Family and Youth Services Flourish Australia HealthWISE Hunter Primary Care Illawarra Shoalhaven Cancer and Haematology Network Kaleido Health Centre Silverchain Group South Pacific Private The Benevolent Society Western Health +1 not for publication
Most Improved Service Provider of the Year	Burnside Hospital

Individual Award	Recipient
Executive Leadership Award	Matthew Kearney, St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney
LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year	Erin Jordan, Burnside Hospital
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Innovation Award	Gender, Sex and Sexuality Project Team, Western Health

2025 HWEI benchmarking slides

2025 Awards Booklet