retailersFr From the Top End through to the Apple Isle, Woolworths Group has today announced an expansion of its support for LGTBQ events aevents across the country.
The partnerships with more than 10 additional events in most Australian States and Territories, strengthens the Group’s support of more local and regionally based LGTBQ+ allyship.
Catherine Hunter, Woolworths Group General Manager, Inclusion said: “We believe that growing LGBTQ+ allyship in regional locations is critical for building a sense of belonging for our team, customers and communities. We have the opportunity to utilise our scale and reach to have a significant impact on the wellbeing and safety of those groups.
“As a partner for events across the country, it means we will be able to involve and engage better with local teams on the ground from across all our business units and brands and create better experiences together for a better tomorrow in the communities in which they operate.
“We look forward to inviting our teams to celebrate and participate in each of these events.”
The events that Woolworths Group has become an official partner for include:
NT: Top End Pride – Katherine Pride Festival and Darwin Pride Festival
QLD: Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras and Brisbane Pride Festival
NSW: Parramatta Pride Picnic and Coastal Twist LGBTQ+ Arts & Culture Festival
VIC: Midsumma Festival and Parade
TAS: TasPride
SA: Adelaide Feast Festival and Adelaide Pride Parade
WA: Albany Pride
These events are in addition to the ongoing engagement of the Proud at Woolworths Group team across Australia, Asia and New Zealand and activities and partnerships to support days of significance such as Wear it Purple Day and RainbowYOUTH in the Group’s stores, support offices, distribution centres and local communities.
Woolworths Group was the first retailer to be awarded Gold Tier status for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Awards, which it has now been recognised with four consecutive years. The AWEI is the definitive national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, driving best practice and setting a benchmark for Australian employers across all sectors.
In New Zealand, the Groups’ supermarkets business, Countdown continues to support our rainbow team and communities and has been recognised with Rainbow Tick accreditation for three years running.
In 2018, Woolworths Group also introduced its Gender Affirmation Policy, which also includes the incorporation of a paid leave component. Team members receive up to two weeks’ paid, and two weeks’ unpaid leave, to support them as they take the necessary steps to affirm their gender, which was a first for Australian and New Zealand retailers.
