Who you are, not who you love

This recognition follows Uniting’s achievement of being included in Pride in Diversity’s Top 20 Employers in Australia for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) in 2015.

With the combination of the Rainbow Tick and its Pride and Diversity status Uniting is an advocate and provider of services to older members of the LGBTI communities.  

Director Ageing at Uniting, Steve Teulan says, “This achievement has been one of the proudest moments of my career. It reflects the wonderful Uniting Church values of a passionate commitment to social justice and the celebration of diversity.

“It represents four years of hard work by our people to ensure that we are equipped to serve older members of the LGBTI communities. We have also received extraordinary assistance from LGBTI organisations, in particular AIDS Council of NSW and the Gender Centre.”

Uniting has been judged against strict standards set by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria (GLHV, part of La Trobe University). Organisations that are Rainbow Tick accredited are demonstrating their commitment to LGBTI pride, diversity and inclusion. They are letting their LGBTI clients, staff and community know that they will receive inclusive services from the moment they walk inside.

“The journey that Uniting went on to reach this point taught us so much about ourselves, but showed us that there is much more we still need to do. We hope that our achievement of the Rainbow Tick will encourage other providers in their development of inclusive services,” Mr Teulan says.

“Our greatest hope is that in the next decade the aged care sector will be inclusive so that all older members of the LGBTI communities seeking aged care services will no longer have a reason to fear discrimination or lack of sensitivity and understanding.”

The Director of GLHV Liam Leonard says it is fabulous to see Uniting, a major aged care provider showing such leadership, “Many older LGBTI people have been discriminated against for much of their life. Well done to everyone involved at Uniting for gaining Rainbow Tick accreditation”.

“It’s a fabulous achievement and sign of Uniting’s commitment and capacity to provide LGBTI inclusive aged and community care services.  GLHV is proud to be associated with the Rainbow Tick program and we hope that other faith-based providers follow Uniting’s lead.”