“Macquarie’s distinctive strength lies in its exceptional sense of community,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton.

“I am proud of the University’s dedication and progress in advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion. With more than 700 staff and students now members of the Ally Network, I extend my gratitude to everyone who has dedicated their time and effort to support others and work towards making our campus a more inclusive place for all.”

Aligning with this vision, Macquarie’s diverse and vibrant LGBTQIA+ community was actively supported and celebrated during Sydney WorldPride 2023, showing our ongoing commitment to inclusion, visibility and belonging.

“Allies advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and are a visible presence across our campus, offering support and guidance and serving as role models for non-discriminatory behaviour and language,” adds Professor Michelle Power (she/her), Co-chair of the Ally Network Steering Committee.

“Creating an inclusive community is a shared responsibility and one of the many ways for staff and students to show support is by joining the Ally Network.”

The last Ally training session for 2023 will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 18 October 10am –11.30am. To enrol, see the staff development webpage. Staff who have completed Ally training and are looking for a refresher course are encouraged to complete Pride in Diversity’s Foundations of LGBTQ Inclusion, which seeks to provide a foundation knowledge level about LGBTQIA+ awareness and inclusion.

Interested in becoming a member of the Ally Network in 2024?  Please email workplacediversityinclusion@mq.edu.au with your details and you will be added to the training waitlist for 2024.

Pride Month (1–30 June) honours the June 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of violent confrontations between police and gay rights activists. The activists were protesting against police harassment and social discrimination suffered by sexual minorities in the 1960s. Today, Pride Month serves as a reminder that everyone should be treated equally and with respect whatever their sexuality or gender identity. 

Sophia Halpin, Co-Chair of Macquarie’s Ally Network, says there is no better time to become an Ally.

“We want everyone in our community to feel respected, valued, safe and supported, and above all, to feel that they belong here and can be their genuine selves,” she says. 

“Everyone at the University has a role to play in making our community inclusive, and one of the many ways to show your support is by joining the  Ally Network.”

Set up in 2009, the Ally Network has more than 650 members who provide support and help foster an inclusive campus for the LGBTQIA+ community. Ally training at Macquarie is open to all staff at the University who are interested in creating an inclusive culture.

Anyone interested in attending Ally Training is asked to first complete Pride in Diversity’s LGBTQ Awareness Online Training. On completion of the online training and face–to–face Ally training sessions, you will be eligible to join the Macquarie  Ally Network.

Both LGBTQ awareness online training and Ally training can be accessed on the  staff development webpage. Macquarie staff are also encouraged to complete  Pride in Diversity’s Foundations of LGBTQ Inclusion module, which provides foundational knowledge about LGBTQ awareness and inclusion. This self-paced eLearning module takes about 20 minutes to complete. If you completed Ally training some time ago, this module is a good way to refresh your learning.

INTRODUCING PRONOUNS ON PROFILE CARDS

All staff can now update their profile information in Teams and Outlook. This includes being able to record and display pronouns, which will filter through Microsoft Teams and Outlook web version. 

Instructions

1. Open your profile card in Teams or Outlook on the web (Outlook: https://outlook.office365.com/mail/ and Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/). To open your profile card in Teams, select your profile picture in the upper right corner. To open your profile card in Outlook on the web, select your name or profile picture in Outlook Mail. 

2. On your profile card, select + Pronouns or the pronouns listed below your name.

3. To add or change your pronouns, select from the examples (only available in English), or enter your own. To delete, remove your pronouns. 

4. Select Save and then Got it. Changes are updated immediately. 

Updating your pronouns in either Teams or Outlook on the web will reflect the change across both platforms, as they both pull from the same Microsoft 365 profile information.

Pronouns should never be assigned on someone else’s behalf. It is up to individuals to decide when, where and which pronouns they use. A person’s pronouns do not always equate to their gender identity. Choosing to use the pronouns feature is optional.

• Pronouns on your profile in Microsoft 365 
• Frequently asked questions about pronouns 

On Thursday 23 March, many of our staff and students will begin observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Tazin Abdullah is a higher degree researcher and a sessional teaching academic in the Department of Linguistics who has been working at Macquarie for 14 years. We asked her to share her insights on the cultural significance of Ramadan and how our community can support Muslim colleagues and students during this spiritual time.

What does Ramadan mean to you, Tazin?  

For me, abstaining from consuming food and water is symbolic of emptying the soul in preparation for the spiritual sustenance Ramadan brings. It is a time of quietness, contemplation and a reminder of our moral and spiritual obligations towards ourselves and those around us. It is also a time when we give more and help more, with the desire that those acts become a part of our constant practices. Ramadan rejuvenates the soul and provides spiritual energy for the year ahead.

What will you be doing to observe Ramadan and celebrate Eid?

During Ramadan, I make the conscious effort to set aside more time than usual for prayer and solitude. I try to slow down a little. This period brings a marked change to our routines as we only eat one significant meal each day when breaking the fast at sunset. This meal, known as Iftar, is very special and becomes something of a celebration with family after each day of fasting.

The end of Ramadan brings an end to daily fasting, and with it, the immense joy of Eid. Eid is much like the reward of the daily Iftar but so much bigger. We decorate our houses and share food and gifts with family, friends and our community. Eid feels like the metaphorical fruits of a tree planted during Ramadan.

Cupcakes made for Eid

What would you like your Macquarie colleagues to know and be mindful of during Ramadan, especially when teaching?

I think it is important to understand that any contemplative act necessitates some withdrawal from the world. Ramadan brings changes to our everyday routines so that we can accommodate the most significant spiritual retreat of the year.

Most Muslims continue as normal with work and study, but everyone has different capabilities and each person adjusts to these routines in their own way. In general, Muslim colleagues and students would benefit greatly from the understanding of their individual capacities during Ramadan and while fasting.

For teachers and other students, it is good to keep in mind that the fast is broken at sunset. If Muslim students are in class at that time, they may want to step out of class to break their fast and say their prayers. Some students may prefer to have a drink of water or eat something in the class. If it is possible to accommodate these practices for the month of Ramadan, I am sure you will find our Muslim students very grateful.

Here is a snapshot of the Macquarie Sydney WorldPride events, including the 600m Pride Stride, Mardi Gras/WorldPride Fair Day stall, Drag Queen Trivia, Fair Day on campus, and the Pride and Professionals Lunch and Learn.

Staff and students come together on campus, hosting and visiting stalls for WorldPride.

Pride cupcakes: a colourful treat for attendees of the WorldPride stall day.

Drag Queen Trivia delivered the glam to Ubar.

Macquarie representatives at the Mardi Gras/WorldPride Fair Day in Victoria Park. 

Campus in colour: stairs on campus were permanently transformed with the colours of the LGBTQIA+ flags and Pride banners flew high over Wally’s Walk.

The Pride and Professionals Lunch and Learn session, a fantastic afternoon of networking and discovery in celebration of Sydney WorldPride 2023.

Macquarie’s Ally Network shows its unity and spirit on Wally’s Walk.

Ally Training at Macquarie

Ally Training at Macquarie is open to all staff at the University who are interested in creating an inclusive culture for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Anyone interested in attending Ally Training is asked to first complete Pride in Diversity’s LGBTQ Awareness Online Training. Once you have completed LGBTQ Awareness Online Training and Ally Training sessions you will be eligible to join the Macquarie Ally Network.

Both LGBTQ Awareness Online Training and Ally Training may be accessed on the staff development webpage.

All Macquarie staff are encouraged to complete Pride in Diversity’s Foundations of LGBTQ Inclusion, which provides foundational knowledge about LGBTQ awareness and inclusion. This self-paced eLearning module takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Macquarie University is proud of its diverse community. It aims to support staff and students from all cultural identities and backgrounds to fully participate in University life, to openly share their unique perspectives and to respectfully express their opinions.

To acknowledge Harmony Day, and to coincide with the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, everyone is invited to the Central Courtyard from 10am on Tuesday 21 March where there will be:

• a DJ playing world music
• free gelato and Belgian cookies
• a drumming demonstration and food stall courtesy of the Lebanese Student Society
• additional food stalls
• art workshops and Indigenous games workshops at 10am, 1pm and 3pm, hosted by Walanga Muru.

There will also be a two-for-one coffee deal at participating Campus Life outlets (Esc Café, Crunch Café, Library Café and Wally’s Café) during café opening hours. Simply visit these locations and complete a quiz about racial discrimination to take advantage of the deal.

Other activities

World Trivia at Ubar, Thursday 23 March 4pm – 6pm. Entry is free but booking is essential so please email ubar@mq.edu.au to reserve your place.

Underpinned by the Macquarie University Indigenous Strategy 2016 – 2025 and Reconciliation Statement, Manawari Staff Aboriginal Cultural Safety Training focuses on creating a better understanding of cultural values, knowledges and perspectives that will lead to greater engagement and social responsibility.

The training consists of three stages:

• Self-paced online modules.
• A face-to-face workshop.
• Survey/evaluation.

Once you have completed these stages, you will receive a microcredential from the University.

Register here

Macquarie University is proud to support WorldPride and celebrate our vibrant, diverse LGBTQIA+ community. A program of activities for the campus and community has been created by the MQ Ally Network Steering Committee, Campus Life, Student Diversity and Inclusion, and Workplace Diversity and Inclusion. 

 “Wallumattagal Campus will host a range of events and activities including the 600-metre ‘Pride Stride’ along Wally’s Walk,  Pride and Professionals Lunch and Learn on the history of the Mardi Gras, Pride drinks and LGBTQIA+ networking on 17 February, and a staff and student on-campus celebration on 28 February. We invite staff to come and show their support,” says Professor Michelle Power (she/her), School of Natural Sciences, Co-chair Ally Network Steering Committee. 

“Macquarie University will also be participating in the Mardi Gras program for the first time, an important step for demonstrating Macquarie’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, visibility and support.  

“Our stall at the Mardi Gras Fair Day is also an opportunity to meet prospective and existing staff and students and let them know that Macquarie University is a safe, welcoming and supportive community.”  

Rainbow installations are appearing on campus as part of Sydney’s transformation into a Rainbow City. Look out for the rainbow flags on Wally’s Walk, rainbow-painted crossings and heart decals, and visit the rainbow-illumination Service Connect building at the heart of our campus. The rainbow steps installation at 18 Wally’s Walk will remain a permanent, visible feature in acknowledgment of our First Nations and LGBTQIA+ communities.  

 “As a Gold AWEI Employer and with a strong Ally Network, we are proud of the inclusive culture at Macquarie University, where LGBTQIA+ students and staff can flourish. Our Executive Group remains committed to continuing the work and ensuring that everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect and can be their genuine self. I look forward to taking part in the many events and encourage all staff to attend these wonderful celebrations” says Vice-President, Professional Services, Nicole Gower (she/her). 

Everyone is invited to attend the WorldPride event on Tuesday 28 February from 10.30am to 2pm, at 1 Central Courtyard. There will be activities, music, food, giveaways and an opportunity to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community. 

An events page has been created so you can plan ahead. You will also find a Zoom background and email banner to use during Sydney WorldPride.  

If you take a selfie, please tag #myMQpride #SydneyWorldPride #RainbowCity. 

Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a broad offering of over 200 events across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, and the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights conference.  

Macquarie University is proud to host a program of events, created by the MQ Ally Network Steering Committee, Campus Life, Student Diversity & Inclusion and Workplace Diversity & Inclusion. Everyone is invited to show their support for our LGBTQIA+ community and take part in the celebrations.  

A number of these events will be donating their profits to Black Rainbow. Black Rainbow is a national volunteer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB social enterprise to pursue positive health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB community.  

Check out Macquarie’s Pride events 

You can also show your support by saving the email banner below and adding it to your email signature, or by saving the Zoom banner and adding it to the background of your meetings. 

Email signatures 

Add a ‘learn about pronouns’ link after your pro-nouns. https://www.transhub.org.au/pronouns 

Zoom banners

Pride Chalkboard Wall  

If you want to share a message of support, draw a picture or write a poem and help celebrate WorldPride at Macquarie then come to the chalkboard wall located between 16 and 18 Wally’s Walk and be inspired. 

Additional resources  

• Pronouns – read here about why you should not say ‘preferred gender pronouns’ 
• History of the rainbow flag

She started at Macquarie in 2017 following 30 years of teaching experience in the United Kingdom and Australia in early childhood, primary and secondary education, and special education (deafness, blindness, neurodiversity) using a range of communication modes.

Her current research focuses on the use of reflective practice to motivate professionals to continuously improve the ways they support children and people of all abilities and backgrounds to achieve in their personal and academic life.

1. Something you’d like staff to know about

In 2005 I led a team of amazing teachers and allied health professionals in the delivery of the first national videoconferencing service for children who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, as well as their families and teachers. This group included children from remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory who had to fly in by plane.

2. Something you feel proud of

I saved someone’s life. I was at dinner in a restaurant when I witnessed a man needing care, so I applied my lifesaving and first aid skills to resuscitate him. You never know when those years of training might be needed.

3. A person you admire at Macquarie, and why

Associate Professor Michael Cavanagh. His book was the first I had on reflective practice and within days of starting at Macquarie I found myself sitting next to him in a meeting. I immediately knew this was a place of great opportunity. He has continued to be generous with his time, sharing his insights and always asking thought-provoking questions that challenge my assumptions.

4. Something people usually ask you when they find out what you do for a living

Can you communicate using sign language?

Whilst I have qualifications in British Sign Language (BSL) and Australian Sign Language (Auslan), I am very grateful to Deaf people and Auslan interpreters for their patience when I communicate with them and mix up some of my BSL and Auslan signs.

As with any language you need to keep practicing, but the convenience of online Auslan classes has made it easier than ever to learn. With the introduction of the Auslan syllabus in New South Wales schools in 2023/24, I am optimistic that in the future, more people will learn the Auslan language and understand about Deaf culture regardless of their job.

5. Something you’ve read recently that has had an impact on you

I was surprised by a fact I read at the Clemenger BBDO exhibition on the theme of Creative Potential at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Louis Braille lost his sight at three years old while playing with a tool from his father’s shed, then went on to use the same tool at age 15 to create an embossed system of dots and dashes now known as Unified English Braille (UEB). Based on the coding system used by the military to help soldiers read at night, his innovation has given thousands of people with blindness and severe vision impairment equitable access to information and inclusion in education, employment and society on the same basis as their sighted peers.

In recognition of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is fantastic that UEB Literacy and UEB Mathematics are now available free and online for anyone who wants to learn braille. This is another amazing example of how an event not only changed the life of young Louis, but also the lives of many of the 2.2 billion people with vision loss.

6. A favourite photo from your camera roll

Having fun with my family on the beach at North Bondi. Life is about balancing the time to do what you love and giving back by volunteering. It’s a great way to meet people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Only last week at Hearing Australia’s 75^th anniversary conference, I reconnected with a former North Bondi lifesaver Dr Naomi Malone whose lived experience of deafness lead to an exploration of deaf history for her PhD – ‘A constant struggle: A history of deaf education in New South Wales since World War II’. It is a very interesting read.

7. Something you’re trying to do differently in 2022

Be courageous and try new activities. As a result, I have returned to playing hockey after a 30-year break. Although my joints protested, I realised how much I loved it.

8. The International Day of People with Disability was Saturday 3 December. Why is it important to promote awareness of this day?

The International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, contributions and achievements of people with disability, as well as promote inclusion and find ways to break down barriers.

9. The theme for IDPwD 2022 was ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’. Can you explain what the theme meant to you?

There have been and continue to be many technological advances that have transformed the options available to meet people’s different access needs. For example, the cochlear implant, which provides access to spoken language for newborns to people over 90 years old; closed captions for TV, movies and online meetings for people who are Deaf/hard of hearing; tactile 3D maps to help people who are blind navigate; and a range of accessibility features on smart phones, tablets and computers. However, the solution for inclusion that has the most potential for creating an equitable world is people and their attitudes to disability.

10. What else do you want staff at Macquarie to know?

Each and every one of us can make a difference. It might start with ways to make iLearn content and course materials accessible in the early stages of development, rather than added on at the end. Reviewing Guidelines for Producing Clear Print or applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principals is a good place to begin.

Perhaps challenge yourself to review the learning environment you provide to see if it enables students to access and participate meaningfully in the learning opportunities made available. Or take some time to think about your beliefs or assumptions about people with a visible or invisible disability. There may be those who challenge your perception as they do not identify as having a disability, such as individuals who are part of the Deaf community and use Auslan and take pride in their culture. By considering our attitudes and behaviours we can all become changemakers for inclusion and seek to uphold the rights of all people.

Pronouns are used in everyday speech and writing and we use gendered pronouns to assign gender to people, often without even thinking about it.  However, interpreting a person’s gender based on how they look or what they are wearing is not respectful or inclusive and can be incorrect. People may choose not to use any pronouns and to be referred to by only their name or change their pronouns for different reasons.

Acknowledging International Pronouns Day provides us with an opportunity to learn why gender pronouns are important, access resources and find out how to update our pronouns on our work systems.

“Macquarie University is proud to be a diverse, and inclusive community where all people are supported to be their genuine selves”, says Sophia Halpin (she/her), MQ Ally Network Co-Chair. “Acknowledging people by their pronouns or preferred name is a sign their identity is respected and valued.”

Free pronoun badges will be available on Wednesday 19 October across campus venues including:

• Crunch Café
• Esc
• Library Café
• Piccolo Lane
• Wally’s Coffee and Toasties
• Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre
• Macquarie University Accommodation
• Women’s Safe room and Queer Safe room (located on the Ground floor, 18WW)
• Early Learning Centres (Banksia, Gumnut, and Waratah).

Pronoun cards will be available all week. These are another way of expressing pronouns visibly — including in your staff card wallet or on your desk — to let people know your pronouns.

For many of us, this is will be learning process, but with plenty of support from Macquarie community, as Tahlia White (she/her), first year speech pathology student explains.

“For transgender and gender non-conforming people, pronouns help us feel seen for our identities,” she says. “The wrong pronoun can often result in a wave of gender dysphoria. Ensuring we use the right pronouns for everyone is important, as everyone deserves to be seen for who they are. We won’t always get a pronoun right and that’s okay, we are all learning. What matters most is the effort to help our community feel validated and seen. That in itself will help transgender and gender nonconforming people feel validated and seen.”

There are resources available (including videos and web links) to share with your family and friends to learn more about the importance of using pronouns, how to change your pronouns and how to join the University’s Ally Network or participate in  Ally Training.

But if you want to make a change today, here are some ideas:

• Add your pronouns on your email signature: (She/Her/Hers/He/Him/His/ They/Them/Theirs)
• Use gender neutral language where possible:

• Display pronouns on your Zoom account: Log into your Zoom account and edit your Pronouns under your Profile. You can select how you would like to share your pronouns, whether to always share in meetings, or be asked every time after joining meetings.
• Show your support for International Pronouns Day by wearing a pronouns badge or using the pronoun card.

This video from Minus 18 explains why pronouns matter, and how to use them to support the LGBTQ+ staff and students in our community.