Welcome to Pride Month festivities
ECU Vice Chancellor Professor Clare Pollock welcomed in Pride Month at ECU with a warm message of support.
First published by Edith Cowan University
"November is Pride Month in Western Australia – a time to celebrate LGBTIQA+ people, honour the progress made for LGBTIQA+ rights and continue the push for equality," said ECU's Vice Chancellor, Professor Clare Pollock.
"ECU is proud to celebrate Pride Month this November, asking everyone to join in and show our continued support for LGBTIQA+ staff, students, alumni and the wider community.
"This reinforces our longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion, and our worldclass research that is having real impact in helping solve challenges faced by LGBTIQA+ people.
"I am especially excited to be celebrating Pride this year, my first as Vice-Chancellor of ECU.
"I'll be joining ECU's float for the Perth Pride Parade on Saturday 23 November, proudly wearing our ECU Pride T-shirt.
"Whether you're joining in the parade like me, attending events like Perth or Bunbury Fairday, or simply taking a moment to reflect, I encourage everyone to celebrate Pride Month in your own special way.
"Together, through learning more about each other, we can continue to create a more inclusive and welcoming ECU for all.
"Happy Pride, everyone!"
A place of belonging
At ECU, we strive to be a place of belonging for all staff and students and are commitment to supporting and celebrating our community members who are diverse in their sex, sexuality and/or gender, including but not limited to those who identify as LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Asexual or Questioning).
Pride @ ECU is about the inclusion of LGBTIQA+ students, staff and community with a strong focus on addressing systemic and cultural barriers so that all ECU community members can be proud of who they are, who they love and where they study and work.
You can read more about LGBTIQA+ Diversity and Inclusion @ ECU at this link, but here is a little bit more about the strength of ECU’s passionate support of our LGBTIQA+ community.
ECU's ALLY Network
The ALLY Network is a group of like-minded ECU staff who actively and visibly support the rights and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ populations through visibility, awareness raising and activities. Learn more about ECU's ALLY Network.
Pride @ ECU Committee
ECU's first LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, named Pride @ ECU, was established in 2019 to provide high level advice and consultation to the University on matters that impact LGBTIQA+ populations.
Pride @ ECU is responsible for leading institutional conversations around LGBTIQA+ inclusion, monitoring LGBTIQA+ initiatives (including the ALLY Network and LGBTIQA+ Staff Network) and demonstrating and promoting inclusive practice across the whole University.
Gender diversity @ ECU
ECU is passionate about ensuring a safe, inclusive and affirming learning and working environment for people of all genders, including those who are trans, gender diverse, non-binary or who are affirming their gender. Support is available to both students and staff to affirm their gender at ECU for more information contact equity@ecu.edu.au or (08) 6304 6170.
Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary Support
We are committed to ensuring that all students, staff and alumni are well supported to be themselves and explore, express and affirm their gender at ECU and beyond.
The Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary (TGDNB) Support Guidelines are designed to provide information and support to anyone who has previously, is currently, or may in the future affirm their gender within ECU, regardless of the language they use to describe their identity or where they are in their personal journey.
All gender bathrooms
In response to a student-led initiative, in 2019 ECU introduced all gender bathrooms across all three campuses. This is to ensure that regardless of gender or expression, all staff, students and visitors have access to safe and affirming facilities while on campus.
Everyone is encouraged to use the bathroom that they feel most comfortable with and that affirms their gender. If you're visiting our campuses, here are the all gender bathroom maps.
LGBTIQA+ inclusion in sports
ECU is committed to ensuring that LGBTIQA+ community members have safe and equitable access to ALL aspects of ECU life, including ensuring our sporting clubs and teams are welcoming places for LGBTIQA+ people. A useful resource for any ECU sporting association, staff or students wishing to be involved in sport is Pride in Sports or the below documents.
- Anti Homophobia in Sport Framework - PDF File, 2.8 MB
- Trans and Gender Diverse Guidelines in Sport - PDF File, 13.5 MB
Whoever you are - reach out for support – it is here!
In addition to the internal resources and supports for the ECU LGBTIQA+ community of staff and students the LGBTIQA+ Diversity and Inclusion @ ECU page includes a list of WA's key LGBTIQA+ community services.
