A message from our new Committee Staff Co-Chair
I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy, safe and productive 2021 from the University of Melbourne Pride in Action Network, particularly after the difficulties and tumult of 2020.
This year we have a number of hugely valued outgoing members who have contributed a great deal of time, expertise and warmth to Pride in Action. I am sure I can speak on behalf of the entire Pride in Action Committee to thank them sincerely for all they have done for us. Dr Megan Sharp, Tom Wright, Chris Bunting, Michelle McNamara, Zoe Stephenson, Lynley Eavis, Ciara O’Sullivan and A’bidah Zaid Shirbeeni – thank you, we wish you all well and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you all in future.
I’m delighted to be stepping into the role of Staff Co-Chair, taking over from Dr Megan Sharp. Megan has been an incredible, supportive and dedicated Staff Co-Chair, together with the equally wonderful Student Co-Chair Caitlyn Pryse. Pride in Action welcomes the new committee members for 2021 – Gene Melzack, Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Carmody Forbes, Associate Professor Birgit Lang, Nerissa Byrne and Jessie Ferrari.
The Pride in Action Network currently has over 3500 members, bringing together staff and students from the LGBTQIA+ community, their allies and supporters, and hosts invaluable training, events, workshops, panels and celebrations across the University. The late, great poet Candy Royalle often spoke and wrote about the vital need for diverse groups from our LGBTQIA+ community to unite and strengthen our relationships together from within.* We have such a colourful, beautiful and multifaceted community, and the work of the Pride in Action Network is committed to connecting us and celebrating this vibrant diversity. In addition to our usual celebrations for events such as Midsumma, Transgender Day of Visibility, IDAHOBIT and Wear It Purple, we plan to implement a new guest speaker series, inviting people from across the LGBTQIA+ community to come to share their stories and their work with us in regular evening events throughout the year.
I look forward to working with everyone on the Pride and Action Committee this year, and to connecting with the wonderful LGBTQIA+ community at the University.
Coady Green
Staff Co-Chair
*For some examples of Candy Royalle’s powerful writing, see Going Postal: More than ‘Yes’ or ‘No’: One year on: writings from the marriage equality survey, edited by Quinn Eades and Son Vivienne, and Royalle’s remarkable volume of poetry A Trillion Tiny Awakenings published by UWAP.
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Meet our new Committee members
Let us introduce you to the wonderful members joining the Pride in Action Committee this year! You can meet the rest of the team on our website.
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Coady Green
Staff Co-Chair | He/Him
Coady is an internationally recognised pianist and a member of the performance staff of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. In 2005, Coady relocated from Melbourne to London, where he spent over a decade maintaining a busy performing career and teaching at University of London and Royal College of Music. He is the recipient of numerous international awards, and regularly performs in major concert halls throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the USA and Australia. He is making the premiere recording of the complete piano etudes of Anton Rubinstein for UK label Toccata Classics, and several volumes of Australian music for saxophone and piano with saxophonist Justin Kenealy, both to be released in 2021.
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Catriona Nguyen-Robertson
Staff Representative | She/Her
Catriona is a researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and a lecturer in Science Communication with the Faculty of Science. She is an advocate for equity and support for under-represented groups in science. As a science communicator, Catriona enjoys sharing science with wider audiences. She is excited to be a part of the Pride in Action Network and hopes to use her skills to build LGBTIQA+ awareness within the community and create an inclusive and safe environment at the university.
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A/Prof Birgit Lang
Staff Representative | She/Her
Birgit Lang is an Associate Professor of German and a historian of gender and sexuality, sex research and psychoanalysis. Birgit has an established track record in supporting LGBTIQA+ staff and students through her previous role as Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty of Arts (2017–19) where she led the Queering the Curriculum Initiative. This initiative resulted in the creation of a digital repository that makes LGBTI related teaching resources available to Faculty teaching staff. She is passionate about the well-being of LGBTIQA+ staff and students and is looking forward to contributing actively to the Pride in Action Network.
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Jessie Ferrari
Indigenous Representative | They/Them
Te (hello) I'm Jessie and am currently serving as the Indigenous Representative in the Pride in Action Network. I am a proud Trans and Queer person from the Yorta Yorta peoples. I am currently studying a Bachelor's degree in Science, majoring Ecology with plans to do a Masters in Environments. My passion is advocating for all marginalised people, with my advocacy in particular centred around LGBTQI+, BIPOC, Environmental, Sex Work, Disability and Climate issues.
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Gene Melzack
Secretary | He/Him
Gene is a Data Curator with Scholarly Services. His role is to build the University's capabilities in stewarding research data. Data stewardship involves considering data quality, security, access, and preservation. This includes research data relating to LGBTIQA+ populations. Gene believes he has a responsibility to repair the broken parts of the world. Making the University a better place for LGBTIQA+ staff and students is part of this work. He has previously volunteered with same gender attracted and gender diverse young people. His lived experiences, community and kinship ties motivate his investment in LGBTIQA+ issues. He crochets his own colourful kippot.
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Carmody Forbes
Marketing & Communications Officer | She/Her
Carmody (Carmo) is the Graphic Design and Communications Officer for PC4 in Cancer Research in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. She helps distribute information to their members in print, digital and audio formats to promote best practice cancer care as well as works on various designs for trials in the cancer team. Carmo is stoked to have landed a role within the Pride in Action Network as she is passionate about inclusiveness and believes marketing and communications plays a key role in creating awareness and good vibes. When not working, Carmo loves hanging with her two poochies Daisy and Jenna, chasing sunrises with her GoPro and attending live gigs.
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Nerissa Byrne
Training & Engagement Lead | She/Her
Nerissa is a Capability Development Manager and an accredited ACON Pride in Diversity LGBTI+ Facilitator. As an Ally, Nerissa passionately believes in equality, overcoming prejudice and supporting others in the face of adversity. She advocates for change and is prepared to help bring it about. She’s incredibly honoured and excited to be part of the Pride in Action Network Committee. Outside the University Nerissa doubles as an ‘unpaid Uber driver’, sharing a home with a very funny Irish hubby, two creative teenagers and two fury muffins on legs (cats)!
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Want to join the Committee?
We're looking for our next Marketing and Communications Lead! Nominations close Friday 12 February 2021 – visit our website for more information and details on how to self-nominate.
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LGBTI+ Awareness Briefings
The first LGBTI+ Awareness Employee Briefing is up for 2021! Encourage your friends and colleagues to register before the session fills up. The briefing provides an understanding of why LGBTI+ workplace inclusion is important to an organisation, a level of comfort around terminology and explores challenges often faced by LGBTI+ employees.
🌈 Register here for the Friday 12 March session from 10.00am–12.00pm.
Pride in Action Ally Training
For those of you wishing to further your understanding, we also invite you to attend Pride in Action Ally Training, facilitated by Pride in Diversity.
Note: the LGBTI+ Awareness Employee Briefing is a pre-requisite to enrolling in the Pride in Action Ally Training. This training builds upon the knowledge gained in the briefing, exploring the role allies play and how they can make a difference. Within groups you will workshop responses to negative commentary and address questions, concerns and/or experiences as an ally.
🌈 Register here for the Thursday 18 March session from 10.00am–12.00pm.
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Midsumma March 2021
Midsumma Festival 2021 will return for new 2021 dates, between 19 April and 5 May, with the March taking place on Sunday 23 May 2021. Stay tuned for how you can be a part of the day with the Pride in Action Network!
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These are challenging times for all. We hope that the links below provide some relevant info on how we can all help each other, staying connected, and some much-needed distraction!
If you are after news and updates re COVID-19, ABC News is a great source of info and offers news in languages other than English.
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Trans Doctor Returns Order Of Australia Medal
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Dr Clara Tung Meng Soo, a Canberra-based doctor, said she was returning the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) awarded to her in 2016 in protest against the decision to honour controversial tennis player Margaret Court on Australia Day.
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10 things you should know about January 26
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Some quick facts on the history of Australia's most contentious date. #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe
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If you posted a black square on Instagram during BLM, I’ll see you at an Invasion Day rally
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"Allyship is an ongoing project, it doesn’t stop, and as an ally you should always be striving to better your support for Bla(c)k people."
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Review: It's a sin
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This new series, now streaming on Stan, is nothing short of a compelling, and at times, heart breaking look at the AIDS crisis as it gripped the United Kingdom in the decade following.
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Non-binary activist bringing trans awareness to the deaf community
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"I am non-binary … It means I do not identify with either gender – man or woman. Sometimes, I am one or the other, both or neither of them."
Dion Galea's transition began the day they saw transgender activist Blake Culley sign these words in a YouTube video with the title: "What it's like growing up deaf and trans."
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Transgender Athlete Hannah Mouncey To Sue the AFL
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Transgender athlete Hannah Mouncey has said that she is planning to initiate legal action against the Australian Football League (AFL) over its new Gender Diversity Policy for elite footballers.
Mouncey slammed the policy that was introduced in October 2020 to allow participation of trans and gender diverse athletes in elite football competitions as “discriminatory”.
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'It gets to you': trans comedians on transphobia & cancel culture
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While ‘cancelled’ comedians continue to succeed after making transphobic jokes, their trans peers are still finding it an often unwelcome industry.
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Pride in Action Network
Celebrating diversity and an inclusive culture
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LGBTQIA+ Resources + Services
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