Monash receives Gold employer recognition for LGBTIQA+ workplace equality again

Member of the Staff Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team at Monash University, Michael Tian (left) and Monash University’s Professor Paula Gerber (right) received the Gold Status award on behalf of the University at the AWEI awards on Friday 29 May.

Monash University has been recognised again as a leading employer in fostering LGBTIQA+ inclusion in the workplace at the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) awards on Friday 29 May.

These awards celebrate leading organisations in Australia which demonstrate the highest level of commitment to fostering LGBTIQA+ inclusive workplaces and are conferred based on rigorous requirements of the national benchmarking framework.

Organisations are assessed against a range of criteria, such as strategic focus and accountability, executive leadership, visibility of inclusion, support and inclusion of trans and gender diverse employees, provision of professional development and community engagement.

Monash University Chief People Officer Bridgid Connors said it was an honour for Monash to be recognised as a leader in promoting LGBTIQA+ inclusion and gain Gold tier status for the second time.

“We continue to champion inclusive practices in everything we do, because we want to ensure everyone can thrive at Monash,” Ms Connors said.

Member of the Staff Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team in Monash HR, Michael Tian, along with Professor Paula Gerber, received the award on behalf of Monash.

The University’s participation in the national benchmarking process has also provided a platform for recognition of its significant cross-disciplinary research endeavours and community engagement. Examples include:

  • Advocacy for Trans Rights in Australia: Faculty of Law Professor Paula Gerber’s book “Sex, Gender & Identity: Trans Rights in Australia” and its national launch tour exemplified impactful public scholarship that bridged academic rigour with community education and inclusion and provided a shining example of allyship to the trans community.
  • Monash XYX Lab: Monash Art Design and Architecture’s XYX Lab continued to make an international impact, particularly within the LGBTIQA+ community. In 2025, the ‘Curious Cities’ symposium, hosted at Monash’s Prato campus, brought together global scholars, practitioners, and activists to discuss the histories, practices, and places of LGBTIQA+ communities.
  • United on the Field - Enhancing Equity and Inclusion in Community Sport: An international project led by the Faculty of Education has been supported by prestigious Australian Research Council funding to provide practical recommendations for sporting organisations, policy makers and government to better address discrimination, inequity and exclusion within the sport sector, which remains an acute issue despite decades of funding and policy interventions.

Other support Monash offers includes sponsoring, supporting and attending Pride events and programs in Australia.