2025 Australian Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards Recipients
ST. VINCENT’S HEALTH NETWORK SYDNEY
Service Provider of the Year
Platinum Tier Service Provider
On behalf of our Senior Leadership Team, our staff Pride Network, and all our staff at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, I am immensely proud to accept Service Provider of the Year and Platinum Tier Service Provider in the 2025 Health and Wellbeing Equality Index.
At St Vincent’s we have a longstanding commitment to providing care to those who need it most, including sexuality and gender diverse patients, consumers, carers and communities. Our index submission reflects our ongoing efforts to deliver LGBTQ+ inclusive care across our services, through staff education, supportive policies and inclusive environments. It’s truly rewarding to see these efforts receive this recognition.
Since we began participating in the index in 2021, we have made significant progress in LGBTQ+ inclusive service provision. In our first year, we earned Bronze, followed by Gold and the Most Improved Service Award in our second year. In our third year we were named Service Provider of the Year, and now, in our fourth year, we’re honoured to be Service Provider of the Year for a second consecutive year and achieve Platinum Tier status for the first time.
I want to particularly thank our staff Pride Network who go above and beyond to ensure LGBTQ+ staff feel safe, supported and able to bring their whole selves to work. I also want to acknowledge Bec Cerio, our Manager of Sexuality and Gender Diversity Programs, who works tirelessly to make St Vincent’s a better place for LGBTQ+ patients, consumers, carers, and staff.
Our improvement year-on-year reflects our understanding that there is always more to do in this space. We know the work doesn’t stop here. We look forward to continuing to learn, improve and respond to the evolving needs of our LGBTQ+ patients and consumers to reduce the barriers that these communities face, and ultimately improve healthcare experiences.
Anna McFadgen, Chief Executive Officer, CEO
COHEALTH
Platinum Tier Service Provider
cohealth is honoured to be recognised as a ‘Platinum Service Provider’ at the 2025 Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards.
At cohealth, our commitment to promoting human rights and health equity is at the heart of everything we do.
We understand that people in the LGBTIQA+ community often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, and we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and working towards health equity, for all.
Our goal is to ensure that every LGBTIQA+ person—whether they are a staff member or a client—feels safe, included, and affirmed in their interactions with cohealth, every single time.
I would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our cohealth staff, who show up every day with a deep commitment to making our services and workplaces culturally safe, accessible, and inclusive.
A special thank you to Jamie Crooks and the Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Team, whose leadership, and dedication have been pivotal in driving our LGBTIQA+ initiatives forward and making this recognition possible.
While we are grateful for this award, we acknowledge that the work is far from complete. Unfortunately, people in the LGBTQ+ community still face poorer health outcomes across many mental, physical, and social wellbeing outcomes.
At cohealth, we remain committed to continuously evolving and improving our efforts, in response to the needs and voices of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Together, we can create a future where everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, has equitable access to the high-quality, affirming healthcare they deserve.
Nicole Bartholomeusz, CEO
AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANISATION
Gold Tier Service Provider
On behalf of the executive team, Board of directors and all ACSO employees and volunteers I am thrilled to accept the Gold Service Provider recognition for our efforts in LGBTQ+ service provision and workforce inclusion.
For over 40 years ACSO has delivered services to help break the cycle of people repeatedly entering the criminal justice system because they lack the support to make change. Our work supports, diverts or reintegrates people through a range of services including mental health, disability, alcohol and other drug treatment, intensive residential support, housing and case management services. Our Equity and Inclusion Manager is part of our Strategy Team, which ensures their work is embedded across the entire organisation, allowing for a holistic and integrated approach to diversity, equity and inclusion
Our first submission in 2023 resulted in an acknowledgment of participation and provided valuable insights into our strengths and gaps. Since then, ACSO has dedicated time and resources to implement sustainable initiatives. The evidence submitted this year is a true reflection of our commitment to the equitable inclusion of our LGBTQ+ service users and colleagues
Thank you to every team member and volunteer who contribute to a safe and inclusive workplace and service. A special thank you to our Inclusive Practice Champions, who, led by our Equity and Inclusion Manger have spearheaded and driven meaningful progress with the dedication and resourcefulness unique to the not-for-profit space.
At ACSO we aim to understand the story, support the change and I am proud to represent an organisation that lives and breathes this statement and its values. Integrity in all we do, passion, belief in humanity and an innovative spirit have assisted ACSO as one team to collaborate on this achievement.
Vaughan Winther, CEO
BURNSIDE HOSPITAL
Gold Tier Service Provider
Most Improved Service Provider
Burnside Hospital has a long history of supporting our community as a not-for-profit community hospital. Over time, as our community has evolved, we’ve recognised the importance of increasing efforts to address the shifting needs of our community members. When we completed our first HWEI benchmarking submission, we were just beginning our journey towards becoming a more intentionally inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ patients and staff at our hospital.
Our initial HWEI benchmarking result provided us with clear, actionable insights and a roadmap for change. Over the past few years, we have made a commitment to continually improve and to ensure that every person of all sexual orientations and gender identities feel respected, valued and supported in our care. The award we have received is testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of our team, and particularly our Ally Network. We have created a culture of inclusion as a fundamental part of the care we provide. This result would not have been possible without the efforts of our clinical staff, front of house staff, support staff and valuable participation from consumer representatives who have worked together to create this change.
Being recognised by Pride in Health + Wellbeing with awards for Gold Tier Service Provider and Most Improved Service Provider demonstrates that we are on track and illustrates our commitment to continuing this work into the future.
Thank you, Pride in Health + Wellbeing, for this incredible honour, and I would also like to thank our team for supporting our continued work towards inclusion.
Alan Morrison, CEO
MATTHEW KEARNEY, ST. VINCENT’S HEALTH NETWORK SYDNEY
Executive Leadership Award
I am very grateful even to be considered for this award, it means a great deal for me personally to be the recipient.
This recognition has only been possible because of the work of a committed team. Past and present Chief Executive Officers of St Vincent’s Health Network, Anthony Schembri and Anna McFadgen have wholeheartedly driven and supported our work to improve access to healthcare for sexuality and gender diverse people. I have also had the benefit of working with two incredible successive Managers of Sexuality and Gender Diversity Programs, Brandon Bear and Bec Cerio.
St Vincent’s also has a wide range of dedicated staff who have engaged in projects which contribute towards our HWEI submissions. Our magnificent staff Pride Network continues to be a great source of advice and energy for the organisation and each other. Our patients, consumers and community members are our purpose and inspiration, they have challenged us to continue to improve and are ready to offer insights about the detail of those improvements.
I remember the late David Polson AM for his friendship and willingness to share his experiences with us. I am also very grateful for the group of trans and gender diverse community members who have trusted us to work with them in improving our understanding of what they need from health services.
Our founders, the Sisters of Charity have set a direction for us to follow by giving an example of radically inclusivity. People like Sister Clare Nolan who was instrumental in opening the hospital to treat patients with HIV, and the late Sister Margaret Mines who offered pastoral care on the HIV ward continue to influence the way our mission becomes action. The work we do today is made possible because they were willing to take risks and stand alongside others who needed their love and care.
Matthew Kearney, National Manager, Formation & Purpose