At this year’s Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards held in Sydney recently, NurseWatch won the 2021 Most Improved Service Provider in the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index.
On receiving the award, NurseWatch Founder and Director, Kate Alexander, said: “At NurseWatch, we value LGBTQ clients and provide customised care which respects the individual and their right to determine their own continuum of care journey. Diversity is nothing without an inclusive workplace culture and we celebrate and recognise the uniqueness of every one of our team, colleagues, and clients every day.”
“NurseWatch Healthcare is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services,” Alexander added. “We welcome all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.”
NurseWatch was in good company at the 2021 LGBTQ Inclusion Awards with other top honours going to organisations such as Dentons, Deutsche Bank, IBM, Woolworths, Coles, the University of NSW and Deloitte, who all received high tiered ranking for LGBTQ inclusion.
Held at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney, this sold-out event is Australia’s foremost annual celebration of LGBTQ workplace inclusion. It’s hosted by ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, the national not-for-profit LGBTQ inclusion support program for employers, sporting organisations and service providers.
These awards are based on the AWEI and the HWEI Indexes for rigorous assessment
The LGBTQ Inclusion awards are based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) – which is now in its eleventh year – and the third Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI). The AWEI and HWEI are rigorous and evidence-based benchmarking tools which assess workplaces each year, checking on the progress and impact of LGBTQ inclusion initiatives.
By participating in the AWEI and accompanying employee survey, employers are able to benchmark their practice against other organisations and to find important data on the impact these initiatives are having on their employees.
Dawn Emsen-Hough, Director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, said she was proud to see both the AWEI and the HWEI continuing to record record growth and participation, especially after a year which saw a great deal of difficulty and uncertainty due to COVID-19.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen incredible advancements in workplace diversity and inclusion despite the turmoil we all experienced on a global scale,” said Emsen-Hough. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see workplaces in Australia continue to remain dedicated and stride towards greater inclusion of our LGBTQ communities.”
Record growth recorded for the AWEI with 186 organisations participating
This year, the AWEI recorded record growth with 186 organisations across Australia participating. An employee survey attached to the index received 44,915 responses, the highest it’s ever received. In its inaugural survey, the HWEI saw over 700 responses from 24 organisations/service providers.
Emsen-Hough said in reference to this: “Once again, we have record numbers of employers across all sectors participating in the indices. The employee survey that accompanied the AWEI, and for the first time, the HWEI, provides us with a great insight into workplace attitudes towards diversity and inclusion.
“Congratulations to all the award recipients announced today, including those the receiving Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Employer status, as well as those that received organisational awards. I commend all of them on their significant achievements and for showing great leadership in LGBTQ inclusion,” she added.
“These awards truly give us an insight into the amazing breadth of work being done by so many in making organisations across Australia more inclusive of LGBTQ people and communities,” she said.
Here’s a list of the Winners from the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index
| Award | Recipient |
| Service Provider of the Year | Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) |
| Gold Service Providers | Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) |
| Silver Service Providers | Medibank Uniting Vic.Tas |
| Bronze Service Providers | Flourish Australia NurseWatch Relationships Australia |
| Most Improved Service Provider of the Year | NurseWatch |
For more information on the AWEI and Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards event or on ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, visit the Pride Inclusion Programs website here.
NurseWatch provides nursing and aged care services in Sydney and Melbourne. For more information, go to www.nursewatch.com.au or call them on (02) 9331 3344.
For more information about NurseWatch’s inclusive policies, see our Inclusion and Diversity Concierge, Miranda Hill here.
