As we mark Pride Month in June, we are reminded of the importance of creating environments where everyone feels seen, respected and safe.
As an organisation, we embrace the diversity of our people, clients and community. We are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and able to bring their whole selves to work.
Benevolent is a member of ACON’s Welcome Here project. As a registered Welcoming Place, we display the Welcome Here sticker in our workplace to show that LGBTQ+ diversity is welcomed and celebrated.
Our commitment was also evident when our National Support Centre teams recently took part in ACON’s LGBTQ+ Introduction Training.
Image above: Members of the Benevolent Support Centre team
Our National Support Centre is the voice of our organisation, connecting potential clients with The Benevolent Society’s services and supporting them throughout their journey with us.
Delivered by ACON Pride Training, the sessions were practical, engaging and thought-provoking, prompting meaningful discussion about allyship, respectful language and inclusive practice.
Most importantly, the training inspired immediate action, with staff identifying practical ways to strengthen inclusion in everyday interactions, communication and systems.
One of the first ideas to come out of the training was finding simple ways to reflect pronouns more clearly in client communication - a small change that can make a big difference in helping people feel safe, respected and included. The training also sparked conversations about how staff could show allyship more visibly in their day-to-day roles, including access to rainbow shirts already used across the organisation.
With more than 65 staff attending across sessions, the ACON training demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusion - but more importantly, it showed what is possible when people feel supported to act on what they learn.
For Service Support Coordinator, Alex Small (he/they), one of the most powerful outcomes was seeing colleagues engage with curiosity and openness. “As a gay non-binary person, it was incredibly validating and heartening to see colleagues genuinely wanting to learn how to better support both their peers and our clients, and to ensure queer people are treated with the respect, dignity and safety we all deserve.”
Reflecting on the response to the training, Siavash Manouchehrpour (He/Him), National Support Centre Manager, added, “We love it when education springs us to action - something meaningful that will positively impact our clients.
“It is a powerful reminder that when learning is paired with trust, initiative and shared purpose, it can lead to immediate, meaningful improvements in practice - for our people, our clients and the community we serve.”
To find out more about how The Benevolent Society and its programs can help you, call our National Support Centre on 1800 236 762 or [email protected].