Be a visible ally this Wear it Purple Day The Northern Sydney Local Health District LGBTQI+
employee network is encouraging staff and the community to pop on some purple and
start a conversation with colleagues and friends this Wear it Purple Day, in line with this year’s theme: Start the conversation…keep it going. Wear it Purple Day will be celebrated across the district on Friday 27 August. It is an initiative that strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+). For Finn Stannard, member of Northern Sydney Local Health District’s Health Promotion Youth Advisory Group, Wear it Purple Day celebrates and brings attention to the conversations about sexuality and mental health that he believes should be discussed daily. “Days like Wear It Purple Day allow for the walls keeping discussions about sexuality, diversity and mental health taboo to come down,” Finn said. “Often it is so much easier to leave things unsaid and unasked rather than risk awkwardness or potential for conflict, however Wear It Purple is a day when opening up and asking about lived experiences
Finn Stannard, member of Northern Sydney Local Health District’s Health Promotion Youth Advisory Group
For Finn, it’s the small yet consistent things that count to creating a supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environment. “Small things like rainbow lanyards, gender neutral pronouns and ‘Welcome Here’ signage will be the things people in need will notice when looking for supportive environments,” Finn said. “Lockdowns have significantly hindered access to supportive environments outside of the home. “If you or somebody you know is looking for information or support, check out QLife, ACON, The Gender Centre and Twenty10 online and telephone services.” Staff are encouraged to get involved in the celebrations – even if working from home. This could be as easy as changing the colour of email fonts to purple for the day or using the Wear it Purple digital meeting room background that can
be pulled from the Wear it Purple website. The LGBTQI+ network invites staff to join its Wear it Purple Day online panel presentation hosted via zoom. The event focus on the importance of LGBTQI+ awareness, inclusion and health initiatives for LGBTQI+ youth. Visit the LGBTQI+ intranet page to find out more: http://intranet.nslhd.health. nsw.gov.au/corpsupport/ The LGBTQI+ network aims to bring together staff who are LGBTQI+ and LGBTQI+ e a workplace culture that respects all diversity and is equally inclusive of those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, intersex and gender diverse. For more information or to find out how you can get involved contact NSLHD- ODTeam@health.nsw.gov. au. workforce/strategy/ wplanning/Diversity/ Pages/WIP2021.aspx
and seeking support becomes the norm.”
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 15 | 20 AUGUST 2021
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