NSW lobby group the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has been urging NSW universities to implement a program that supports GLBTI students and Staff.
The program, developed by the University of Western Australia, is called the Ally Program and creates a network of safe space “Allies†for staff and students as well as review university policy to ensure GLBTI students are staff are welcomed and included.
The GLRL has been working with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) – The General Staff Union in higher education to ensure staff and students are consulted with the implementation of the program.
GLRL Committee Member, Blake Stephens said ‘I wrote to each of the Vice Chancellors in NSW introducing this program and a number of universities have responded very positively and have made commitments to ensure this program succeeds.’
‘The Support of the CPSU and Student Unions has been fantastic, with members volunteering to assist with making this program a success.’
‘Both the University of Newcastle and the University of Sydney were the first to respond and commit to implementing this program to support their GLBTI students and staff and joins the Universities of New England and Western Sydney in utilizing this program.’
‘While the Australian Catholic University has been the only university to kindly reject the offer, we are still negotiating with other universities in NSW who have expressed a strong interest in also adopting the program. I hope to see NSW join Western Australia with all NSW universities using this program one day.’
Steve Turner, Assistant State Branch Secretary of the CPSU says, ‘The CPSU has long history of supporting gay and lesbian people, even as far back as the first Mardi Gras protest marches. This initiative through the public higher education sector is a great opportunity for higher education to show their leadership in social responsibility to the community.’
