ALLY Network & Safe Place Program

The University of Newcastle ALLY Network extends our range of diversity initiatives into the area of sexuality and promotes a more welcoming, diverse and inclusive culture by facilitating greater visibility and awareness of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex staff, students and related issues.

As part of this commitment, the University of Newcastle’s Equity & Diversity Unit has become a member of the Safe Place Program. Established in 1991, the program originally involved participating venues displaying a sign which identified them as a place of refuge for victims of street-based homophobic violence. While GLBTI people still experience street-based violence, the number of incidents has decreased significantly over the last two decades, and so the program has now been reinvented as a platform for participating venues to demonstrate that they are welcoming, supportive and actively engaged with LGBTI communities.

You can show your support of this important initiative by becoming an ALLY.  An ALLY is a trained person who has an understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people and issues, and can provide a  ‘safe zone’ for support and referral services for GLBTI staff and students.  An ALLY is not identified as being heterosexual or GLBTI, but rather is someone who is representative of the University community.

The next ALLY training session will be held on 11 November. Please register via HRonline if you would like to participate.

In the meantime if you are interested in finding out more about the ALLY Network or would like to become involved, why not come along to an informal lunch with the current ALLIES, to be held on Tuesday 13th August from 1pm - 2pm, upstairs in Isabella’s.

Further information about the ALLY Network can be found at:
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/equity-diversity/ally-network/ally-role.html

Or by contacting the Equity& Diversity Unit on ext 16547 or email: equityanddiversity@newcastle.edu.au