cohealth is honoured to be recognised as a ‘Platinum Service Provider’ at the 2026 Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards.
At cohealth, our commitment to promoting human rights and health equity is at the heart of everything we do.

We understand that people in the LGBTIQA+ community often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, and we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and working towards health equity, for all.

Our goal is to ensure that every LGBTIQA+ person—whether they are a staff member or a client—feels safe, included, and affirmed in their interactions with cohealth, every single time.

I would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our cohealth staff, who show up every day with a deep commitment to making our services and workplaces culturally safe, accessible, and inclusive.

A special thank you to Jamie Crooks and the Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Team, whose leadership, and dedication have been pivotal in driving our LGBTIQA+ initiatives forward and making this recognition possible.

While we are grateful for this award, we acknowledge that the work is far from complete. Unfortunately, people in the LGBTQ+ community still face poorer health outcomes across many mental, physical, and social wellbeing outcomes.

At cohealth, we remain committed to continuously evolving and improving our efforts, in response to the needs and voices of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Together, we can create a future where everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, has equitable access to the high-quality, affirming healthcare they deserve.

Nicole Bartholomeusz
CEO

On behalf of our Senior Leadership Team, our staff Pride Network, and all our staff at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, I am immensely proud to accept Service Provider of the Year and Platinum Tier Service Provider in the 2025 Health and Wellbeing Equality Index.

At St Vincent’s we have a longstanding commitment to providing care to those who need it most, including sexuality and gender diverse patients, consumers, carers and communities. Our index submission reflects our ongoing efforts to deliver LGBTQ+ inclusive care across our services, through staff education, supportive policies and inclusive environments. It’s truly rewarding to see these efforts receive this recognition.

Since we began participating in the index in 2021, we have made significant progress in LGBTQ+ inclusive service provision. In our first year, we earned Bronze, followed by Gold and the Most Improved Service Award in our second year. In our third year we were named Service Provider of the Year, and now, in our fourth year, we’re honoured to be Service Provider of the Year for a second consecutive year and achieve Platinum Tier status for the first time.

I want to particularly thank our staff Pride Network who go above and beyond to ensure LGBTQ+ staff feel safe, supported and able to bring their whole selves to work. I also want to acknowledge Bec Cerio, our Manager of Sexuality and Gender Diversity Programs, who works tirelessly to make St Vincent’s a better place for LGBTQ+ patients, consumers, carers, and staff.

Our improvement year-on-year reflects our understanding that there is always more to do in this space. We know the work doesn’t stop here. We look forward to continuing to learn, improve and respond to the evolving needs of our LGBTQ+ patients and consumers to reduce the barriers that these communities face, and ultimately improve healthcare experiences.

Anna McFadgen
Chief Executive Officer

At A Growing Understanding, we believe that every child, young person, and family deserves to feel safe, respected and genuinely welcomed for who they are. Achieving recognition as a Gold Tier Service Provider is a meaningful milestone for our organisation and reflects our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive, affirming and child-safe environments for LGBTQ+ communities.

While we are proud of this achievement, we also recognise that inclusion is not a finish line. It is an ongoing process of listening, learning, reflecting and improving. Our work in this space continues to be shaped by the voices and lived experiences of children, young people, families, our team and the wider community.

As a paediatric speech pathology service, we understand the importance of communication, identity, connection and belonging in a child’s development and wellbeing. This recognition reinforces our responsibility to ensure that our environments, language, policies, resources and everyday interactions actively support children and families of diverse genders, identities and experiences.

Our approach is also strongly guided by the principles of the Child Safe Standards and the ChildKind framework. We are committed to creating spaces where children feel emotionally and physically safe, where diversity is respected and where children and families are empowered to share their experiences and perspectives. This includes ongoing team education, reflective practice, inclusive resources and environments and strengthening the ways families can provide feedback and shape our services.

We know there is always more to learn and we remain committed to continuing this work with care, accountability and openness. We are grateful to Pride in Health and Wellbeing, our team, families and community for supporting us as we continue to grow our understanding and strengthen inclusive practice across every part of our service.

Emma Hyde
Clinical Director

On behalf of the executive team, Board of directors and all ACSO employees and volunteers I am thrilled to accept the Gold Service Provider recognition for our efforts in LGBTQ+ service provision and workforce inclusion.
For over 40 years ACSO has delivered services to help break the cycle of people repeatedly entering the criminal justice system because they lack the support to make change. Our work supports, diverts or reintegrates people through a range of services including mental health, disability, alcohol and other drug treatment, intensive residential support, housing and case management services. Our Equity and Inclusion Manager is part of our Strategy Team, which ensures their work is embedded across the entire organisation, allowing for a holistic and integrated approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Our first submission in 2023 resulted in an acknowledgment of participation and provided valuable insights into our strengths and gaps. Since then, ACSO has dedicated time and resources to implement sustainable initiatives. The evidence submitted this year is a true reflection of our commitment to the equitable inclusion of our LGBTQ+ service users and colleagues

Thank you to every team member and volunteer who contribute to a safe and inclusive workplace and service. A special thank you to our Inclusive Practice Champions, who, led by our Equity and Inclusion Manger have spearheaded and driven meaningful progress with the dedication and resourcefulness unique to the not-for-profit space.

At ACSO we aim to understand the story, support the change and I am proud to represent an organisation that lives and breathes this statement and its values. Integrity in all we do, passion, belief in humanity and an innovative spirit have assisted ACSO as one team to collaborate on this achievement.

Vaughan Winther
CEO

For many years, Burnside Hospital has proudly served our community as a not-for-profit hospital. At the heart of that we do is a simple belief: healthcare should be safe, respectful and inclusive for everyone. We know that for some people, particularly those whose health outcomes have been affected by discrimination, accessing care has not always been easy or equitable. This is something we are deeply committed to changing. We firmly believe that diversity makes us stronger. It helps us become a better hospital – one that listens more carefully, understands more deeply, and responds more effectively to the needs of our patients and community.

In recent years we have made a very intentional commitment to building more inclusive practices across our hospital. This includes ensuring that sexuality and gender diverse patients, their families and their support people feel genuinely welcomed, respected and supported when they walk through our doors.

This achievement really belongs to the many people who have contributed to that work. Our dedicated staff, accredited practitioners, volunteers, consumer representatives, allies, and community members who continue to challenge us, guide us and help us grow. Their passion and commitment are what make this progress possible.

Achieving gold tier status in HWEI benchmarking is a wonderful achievement, but we know that the work does not stop here. We will keep listening, keep learning, listening and keep striving to do better so that our hospital remains a place where everyone feels safe, seen, and valued.

We are proud to continue this journey alongside our community.

Alan Morrison
CEO

MCM is proud to have achieved Gold for our HWEI submission, as it is an important recognition of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity of access, inclusion and safety for people across our services and workplaces.

Our organisation has a long history of supporting people who experience marginalisation and disadvantage, and we know that LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face significant barriers to safety, housing stability and wellbeing. Many young LGBTQIA+ people who access our homelessness, family violence and mental health services have experienced discrimination related to their gender or sexuality. Achieving Gold affirms our responsibility to meet these experiences with services that are respectful, affirming and trauma‑informed.

Our practices are guided by our Healing Oriented Framework, which centres lived experience, cultural safety and unconditional positive regard. Its guiding principles respect individual identity and acknowledge the impact of trauma, including discrimination related to gender or sexuality. Gold status recognises our commitment to embedding this approach consistently across our services and programs.

Inclusion is equally important within our workforce. As a recognised Inclusive Employer with Diversity Council Australia, we value the diversity of identities and lived experiences among our staff, including LGBTQIA+ employees. Creating safe and inclusive workplaces strengthens our culture and improves outcomes for the people we support.

Achieving Gold is a significant milestone for MCM, and an important reminder that inclusion is not a destination. We remain committed to continuous learning, accountability and improvement, so that we can continue to be a trusted service provider and employer for LGBTQIA+ people now and into the future.

Paul Wappett (he/him)
MCM Chief Executive Officer

I am incredibly proud of Northern Sydney Local Health District’s achievement in being recognised as a Gold Tier Service Provider through ACON’s Health and Wellbeing Equality Index. This recognition reflects years of sustained effort to ensure LGBTIQ+ people feel safe, respected and affirmed every time they engage with our services.

This achievement belongs to our staff. Across our hospitals, community services and corporate teams, our people have shown up with compassion and commitment to delivering truly inclusive care. From frontline clinicians and administrative staff to managers and executives, there has been a clear and shared understanding that inclusion is not optional. It is core to high quality health care.

Over the past year, we have seen powerful examples of this commitment in action. Our LGBTIQ+ Health Symposium placed lived experience at the centre of learning and helped shape more inclusive services for older LGBTIQ+ people. Our Rainbow Screening Clinic worked to remove long standing barriers to preventative care for trans and gender diverse communities. Our participation in community events such as the Fusion Pride Picnic strengthened trust and connection with the people we serve.

Behind these initiatives sits strong governance, thoughtful policy reform and meaningful engagement with consumers. We have improved how we collect and manage sensitive information, expanded access to tailored training, strengthened referral pathways and listened closely to feedback from LGBTIQ+ service users. This work has been led and supported by dedicated staff who continue to challenge systems and advocate for better care.

I want to sincerely thank our leaders for their visible allyship, our staff for their professionalism and kindness, and our community for their honesty and partnership. This Gold Tier recognition is an important milestone, but more importantly it reinforces our responsibility to keep listening, learning and improving so everyone receives the inclusive, dignified care they deserve.

Anthony Schembri

I am incredibly proud that NSW Health Pathology has been recognised with two major honours in the 2026 ACON Health + Wellbeing Equality Index, achieving Gold Tier status and being named Most Improved Service Provider of the Year. These awards acknowledge the determination and collective effort of our people to create workplaces and health services that are inclusive and safe for LGBTQIA+ communities.

Reaching gold, following our silver tier result in 2025, represents significant and measurable progress. A substantial increase in our overall HWEI score reflects sustained work across policy, leadership, workforce capability and service delivery. Being recognised as Most Improved Service Provider reinforces that meaningful change is possible when inclusion is prioritised and supported at every level of an organisation.

This achievement belongs to our staff across NSW who have championed inclusion through action. This includes strengthening inclusive policies and governance, to rolling out LGBTQIA+ training for frontline teams and implementing practical initiatives that support respectful, patient centred care. The leadership shown through Pride Month activities, our ongoing participation in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the advocacy of NSW Health Pathology’s LGBTQIA+ staff and ally network, PathPride, have all played a vital role.

Healthcare should be safe, respectful and welcoming for everyone. These two awards show that NSW Health Pathology is moving in the right direction while also reminding us that inclusion is an ongoing commitment rather than a finished task.

I thank ACON for its leadership through the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index and congratulate the other category winners, as well as staff at NSW Health Pathology who have contributed to this result. We remain committed to listening and continuing to improve our services so that LGBTQIA+ staff feel valued and supported, and patients receive the safe and inclusive care they deserve.

Vanessa Janissen
Chief Executive

Being recognised as 2026 LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year is an honour, but mostly a welcome reminder to keep listening, stay open and continue learning. Allyship is never static. It looks different across communities and individuals, and it’s not about being perfect or having all the answers. For me, being a good ally means centring lived experience, remaining curious and being willing to grow.

Being in a Communications role, allyship feels like a natural extension of my work. Communication has the power to amplify voices, shape conversations and build understanding. Whether it’s considering diverse audiences, honouring different communities and cultures, or using our platforms to elevate marginalised perspectives, I believe allyship should be embedded in our everyday communication. If I have access to tools that can help do that, then using them feels essential.

But this work is powered by collaboration – it is my fellow members of our LGBTQIA+ inclusion working group, the Rainbow Committee, who help me keep LGBTQIA+ matters in our communication streams. They approach everything with warmth, creativity, and purpose. From engaging staff through Wear It Purple Day initiatives to sharing progress on the HWEI submissions to strutting together at the Midsumma Pride March, it’s all driven by teamwork.

Dusty Johnston (she/her)
MCM Communications Coordinator

vIt is a privilege to see Northern Sydney Local Health District recognised with the LGBTQ+ Inclusive Innovation Award. This honour acknowledges the leadership, creativity and commitment behind our LGBTIQ+ Health Symposium and reflects the way our people continue to push beyond business as usual to improve care for our communities.

The symposium represented a different kind of innovation. Rather than focusing on awareness alone, it created a space where lived experience, research and system reform came together. By centring the voices of LGBTIQ+ elders, intersex advocates and First Nations contributors, the symposium reminded us that the most meaningful innovation starts by listening carefully to those with lived experience and trusting them to lead the conversation.

This work has already had a lasting impact. Insights from the symposium have shaped our Statement of Action on Healthy Ageing for LGBTIQ+ People and strengthened how we design services, support our workforce and partner with community. It has helped lift capability across our district and reinforced our commitment to care that is respectful, person centred and culturally safe for older LGBTIQ+ people.

I want to acknowledge the dedication of the staff who brought this project to life and the many organisations, advocates and community members who gave their time, wisdom and honesty. In particular, I would like to recognise Jemma Clifton, our former LGBTIQ+ Project Manager, whose inspiring leadership and deep commitment to community partnership were central to the symposium’s success.

This award is a reminder that innovation in health care is not only about new systems or tools. It is about relationships, empathy and the courage to do things differently. As a District, we are committed to building on this work and continuing to create services where LGBTIQ+ people of all ages feel seen, valued and supported.

Michael Sanderson (he/him)
Project Manager, NSW Health LGBTIQ+ Strategy 

Many of us come to understand that being safe and being seen are not always the same thing. You can be surrounded by people who are working hard, doing everything right, and still feel as though you need to hold back part of yourself to make sure that you belong. This is a reality that many LGBTQ+ people continue to carry into workplaces, communities, and healthcare settings, often at moments when they are most vulnerable.

To be recognised for contributing to kinder, more inclusive spaces is both humbling and deeply personal. This acknowledgement reflects the collective effort of my colleagues at SVHS and across the wider Australian health landscape, as well as the executives and leaders who have chosen compassion, courage, and accountability, even when doing so has been uncomfortable. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Bec Cerio, our Sexuality and Gender Diversity Lead, whose guidance, advocacy and friendship have been instrumental in shaping, developing and fostering this mindset of awareness and righteousness.

This recognition belongs to everyone who has spoken up when systems felt rigid, everyone who has led by providing dignity in moments of care, and to every LGBTQ+ person who has trusted healthcare services across the country with their wellbeing and, importantly, with their truth. Their experiences continue to shape how we improve on a daily basis, which we must continue to do.

 Healthcare is not only about treatment of medical conditions. It is about creating environments where people feel respected, understood, and safe enough to fully participate in their own care. When individuals feel able to be truly themselves in healthcare settings, outcomes improve not only clinically, but socially and culturally.

 I remain committed to working alongside colleagues and communities to ensure that our health systems are places where safety and visibility coexist, and where every person is met first and foremost with humanity.

Daniel Schneider (he/him)
Patient Administration Manager
Medical Imaging Department (Inclusive of Interventional Radiology)

Burnside Hospital has a long history of supporting our community as a not-for-profit community hospital. Over time, as our community has evolved, we’ve recognised the importance of increasing efforts to address the shifting needs of our community members. When we completed our first HWEI benchmarking submission, we were just beginning our journey towards becoming a more intentionally inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ patients and staff at our hospital.

Our initial HWEI benchmarking result provided us with clear, actionable insights and a roadmap for change. Over the past few years, we have made a commitment to continually improve and to ensure that every person of all sexual orientations and gender identities feel respected, valued and supported in our care. The award we have received is testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of our team, and particularly our Ally Network. We have created a culture of inclusion as a fundamental part of the care we provide. This result would not have been possible without the efforts of our clinical staff, front of house staff, support staff and valuable participation from consumer representatives who have worked together to create this change.

Being recognised by Pride in Health + Wellbeing with awards for Gold Tier Service Provider and Most Improved Service Provider demonstrates that we are on track and illustrates our commitment to continuing this work into the future.

Thank you, Pride in Health + Wellbeing, for this incredible honour, and I would also like to thank our team for supporting our continued work towards inclusion.

Alan Morrison
CEO