University sector recognised at the 2022 Pride in Sport Awards

Sunday 1 May 2022

Macquarie University Sport (MQU) and The University of Western Australia Sport (UWA Sport) were among several sporting organisations awarded accolades at the 2022 Pride in Sport Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday 27 April 2022.

The Pride in Sport Awards were established in 2018 and recognise the exceptional efforts in creating a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ people in Australian sport.

MQU was awarded the Sporting Organisation of the Year for the first time. This is recognition of their comprehensive program run on campus that focuses on LGBTQ inclusion, zero tolerance of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and delivering an inclusion framework that guides policy decisions.

MQU are the second university to win top honours after Melbourne University Sport won the award in 2019 and 2020. It is a testament to the work that the university sports sector does towards achieving LGBTIQ inclusion in sport that a university sport department has been given this honour three times since the awards’ inception.

UWA Sport was recognised for their extensive work in LGBTIQ inclusion through the recognition of the Most Improved Organisation in 2021. UWA Sport General Manager, Ian Fitzpatrick was delighted in the recognition that UWA received. “With our vision to be regarded as the leading university in Australia for participation, performance and inclusion through sport, this acknowledgement is an important point of reflection” Fitzpatrick said.

UniSport Chief Executive Officer, Mark Sinderberry highlighted “demonstrating that the university sector is inclusive is critical for the safety and wellbeing of our diverse student population. UniSport Australia alongside all our 43 member institutions are committed to providing welcoming and inclusive environment for all student athletes who wish to participate in university sport” Sinderberry said.

“On behalf of UniSport, I would like to congratulate the work of all universities, in particular Macquarie University Sport and UWA Sport for leading the way on such a key area of university life” remarked Sinderberry.

The Pride in Sport awards also acknowledge the results of the Pride in Sport Index. The Pride in Sport Index is an annual benchmarking instrument used to assess LGTBIA inclusion in Australian sport.

MQU and UWA were recognised with Gold Tier Status, and UniSport Australia and Swinburne University Student Life were recognised with Bronze Tier Status.

UniSport is delighted to receive Bronze Tier status recognition after another year of reduced activities. 2021 was highlighted by the inaugural Pride Round at the University Basketball League Australia (UBL) competition and Pride Day at our National event in Queensland in September.

To read more on UniSport’s commitment to LGBTQ inclusion click here

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Kylie Bloodworth

Marketing and Communications Manager

UniSport Australia

Phone: 0449 949 916

Email: kylie.bloodworth@unisport.com.au

About UniSport Australia

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia. 43 universities are members of UniSport, representing a population of over one million students. UniSport’s ambition is to become an integral partner of Australian universities to deliver an outstanding student experience at our national intervarsity sports competitions. UniSport is also committed to advocate on the value of sport on student experience.