For Richmond Wellbeing taking part in Perth’s annual Pride Parade was part of a larger movement to embrace diversity across their organisation.

This year was the third year the health organisation has taken part in the parade, the group say they’ve recognised the need to embrace diversity in response to the overwhelming evidence concerning the impact of exclusion and discrimination on the mental health and wellness of the LGBTIQ communities.

Chief Executive Officer, Neil Guard said he viewed the Pride Parade as being important not just for the LGBTIQ community, but everyone who believes in freedom and acceptance.

“Pride Parade celebrations aren’t just for those in the LGBTIQ community, but for all people who share a fundamental belief in the freedom to express yourself and the importance of acceptance.” Guard said.

Richmond Wellbeing was recently accredited as a Rainbow Tick organisation, the first organisation in Western Australia to achieve this high-level recognition for its LGBTIQ inclusive approach.

The organisation has been delivering mental health services to West Australians, with a focus on recovery, for more than 40 years.

Joining Richmond Wellbeing in the parade was the team from Carers WA, it’s the third year the two groups have joined together to take part in the event.

Carers WA’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Coates said taking part in the Pride Parade with it’s theme of Freedom was something that was inline with the organisations values.

“The focus in 2017 is on celebrating the freedom that the LGBTIQ community have in our country – to love, to live and to allow people to be open about who they are.”

“For me there is much to celebrate but we cannot afford to be complacent as the many vocalised negative opinions in relation to the marriage equality vote demonstrates. There is much to be done to ensure we have a truly compassionate, accepting and inclusive society.

“With this in mind Carers WA is a passionate supporter of the Pride Parade and, more generally, the movement to ensure equal rights for all sections of our wonderfully diverse society.”

OIP Staff