Gay-friendly businesses celebrated

The nation’s most LGBTI-friendly businesses have been honoured at the annual Pride in Diversity lunch.

Hosted by comedian Bob Downe on International Day Against Homophobia last Friday, the lunch acknowledged companies that best provide support for their LGBTI employees.

Management consulting firm Accenture Australia was named Employer of the Year, with IBM Australia, Westpac and Goldman Sachs also gaining acclaim for their LGBTI-friendly workplace practices.

Curtin University in Perth was named as Australia’s most queer-friendly university workplace, while UnitingCare Ageing NSW/ACT took out the new Not-for-Profit/Charity Award. The Australian Federal Police were honoured as the highest-ranking public sector organisation.

Gay footballer Jason Ball (pictured) gave the keynote address at the ceremony.

Pride in Diversity program director Dawn Hough said this year’s competition was the largest yet.

“Submissions this year were up by 65 percent and over 3000 employees took part in the process,” Hough said.

“This has made gaining entry to the Top Ten much more difficult, which shows that organisations throughout Australia are taking very seriously their work in this area and that LGBTI inclusion within Australian workplaces is on the rise.”

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS 2013:

1. Accenture Australia
2. PwC
3. Goldman Sachs
4. KPMG
5. Joint 5th place: Chevron Australia
Joint 5th place: IBM
6. Forfeited (due to joint 5th placing)
7. Joint 7th place: Westpac Group
Joint 7th place: Curtin University, WA (taking the award for highest ranking university)
8. Forfeited (due to joining 7th place)
9. The University of Western Australia
10.Lend Lease Australia.