LGBTQIA+ inclusion at UQ

The University recognises that a person's gender may not align with the gender assigned at birth and is committed to supporting someone who affirms their gender in the workplace.

A gender affirmation, or transition, process is different for everyone, but it may involve changing their name, appearance, dress, salutations, and other aspects of themselves to align with their true gender. The University is committed to supporting staff in affirming their gender in the workplace in a safe, positive, and inclusive way. University Staff who wish to affirm their gender have access to confidential and specific support, including special paid leave, to do so in the manner they choose.

The UQ guide for supporting gender affirmation or transition in the workplace provides information to staff and supervisors on how to best support staff affirming their gender in the workplace. Supervisors and colleagues are important in supporting staff to affirm or transition their gender in the workplace. The staff member affirming or transitioning their gender can work with their supervisor to develop a workplace gender affirmation plan to guide the process.

To develop a plan to assist and support staff during this process, download the:

• UQ guide for supporting gender affirmation or transition in the workplace (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• UQ workplace gender affirmation or transition plan template (DOCX, 47.1 KB)

Using inclusive language

The UQ standard inclusive gender-neutral salutation is ‘Mx’. However, not everyone who is non-binary will use a gender-neutral salutation. People who are non-binary or gender diverse may also have the salutation of Dr, Associate Professor, Professor, Mr, Mrs, etc.

See the UQ Inclusive Language Guide for more information.

Indicating your pronouns at UQ

Everyone can indicate their pronouns by

• Wearing a pronoun badge,
• Adding your pronouns to your Zoom account,
• Including your pronouns in your email signature: staff also have this option when using the UQ DAM email signature template,
• Add your pronouns to your Office 365 and your Microsoft Teams profile,
• Add your pronouns to your Employee/Worker profile in Workday. This will only appear if you have added pronouns under the Personal Information section of the Worker Profile.

The UQ Branding, UQ Ally Network, Student Employability Centre, and Student-Staff-Partnership teams have created a set of posters and stickers to help with pronouns:

• pronoun poster (print version)
• pronoun poster (web version) (PDF, 49.4 KB)
• oval pronoun stickers (PDF, 22.5 KB)
• circle pronoun stickers. (PDF, 22.8 KB)

Dress codes and uniforms

UQ inherently accepts all dress forms and doesn’t have a formal dress code. Staff can express themselves through clothing in any way they personally choose, regardless of gender.

There are few ‘uniforms’ within the UQ context, but where they exist, there are no gender differences or restrictions.

Learn more:

• TransHub explains the basics of gender, sex and pronouns
• A Guide To Gender Identity Terms

Why Gender-Inclusive Facilities Are Important

Access to a safe toilet is a basic human right. We have a diverse community at UQ that includes transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex people. The addition of all-gender toilets, alongside single-gender facilities, enables UQ to provide a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for our entire community.  

All students, staff, and visitors are entitled to use the bathroom of their choice. UQ provides all-gender toilets for people of any gender or gender expression. They provide a space for people who might not feel safe or comfortable using the gendered toilets. Additionally, all gender toilets benefit parents or guardians accompanying children, as well as people who require the assistance of a Carer.  

How to tell if it’s an All-Gender Toilet

All gender or gender-neutral toilets have signage with a toilet icon and the words “All Gender Toilet”.  On UQ Maps, you can search “all gender toilets” or search “toilet” and click the ‘Toilets – All Gender’ icon.  It will then show you where these are on campus.

Where do we need more all-gender toilets?

Workplace Diversity and Inclusion and Property and Facilities would like feedback on UQ locations you think need to be a priority for UQ to add or update all-gender toilets in buildings/worksites/locations. Please note that they are being rolled out gradually. By submitting a location for review, you are letting us know which locations need to be considered first. All responses are completely anonymous. We don't collect emails, names or any of your details. 

Highlight a Space

UQ LGBTQIA+ Bursary

LGBTQIA+ young people are more likely to experience financial hardship and homelessness during their time at university than their heterosexual, cisgender peers.

Established in 2013, the UQ LGBTQIA+ Bursary supports UQ students of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities experiencing financial hardship at any point of their studies.

The UQ Ally Network proudly supports the Bursary with fundraising activities throughout the year, including The Annual Great Rainbow Bake Off, and since the start of 2021, over $30,000 has been donated to the fund.

Each year, scholarships of between $500 and $2000 are awarded to LGBTQIA+ students in need of support, including costs associated with changing their name.

Your support is highly appreciated and you can donate here. For more information, contact UQ Scholarship Office at scholarships@uq.edu.au

Alumni Pride Scholarship

LGBTQIA+ young people are more likely to experience financial hardship and mental health issues during their time at university than their peers, due to social stigma and discrimination.

Our goal is to establish The Alumni Pride Scholarship by creating an endowment fund, enabling an annual award of approximately $4,500 to help advance the educational experience of one LGBTQIA+ student experiencing financial hardship, every year, in perpetuity.

Thanks to the support of Alumni Friends, Professor Heather Zwicker, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and collective donors, we are close to reach our fundraising goal and start awarding the scholarship.

We are immensely appreciative for the generous support of our UQ community, and we would be grateful for your help to ensure higher education is affordable to LGBTQIA+ students at UQ. You can donate here.

​UQ recognises that the LGBTQIA+ community faces specific forms of bullying, discrimination and harassment. For more information, we recommend all staff read these fact sheets from the Australian Human Rights Commission:

• sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status discrimination
• sex discrimination.

Other useful resources:

• Trans @ Work from the Queensland Human Rights Commission provides information on how to develop and maintain an inclusive workplace for trans people.
• Homophobia in the Workplace (PDF, 1.1MB) is an excellent resource for identifying, preventing and removing homophobia in the workplace.
• Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) publish a range of online publications, some of which are available in hardcopy through UQ. Contact Workplace Diversity and Inclusion for more information.
• UQ uses the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender
• Domestic Violence in Rainbow Families describes the unique challanges faced by LGBTQIA+ families.
• UQ Ally Workshop training program.

You and your immediate family can access LGBTQIA+ specific support through the Employee Assist Program (EAP).

If you are travelling for work, and either yourself or your travel companions are LGBTQIA+ people, we recommend you regularly check the UQ ISOS Portal and complete the ISOS training on LGBTQIA+ travel. 

Students should refer to the UQ Union, UQ Union Queer Collective, a member of the Ally Network or Student Services for support and advice.

External services:

• PFLAG (Parents and friends of Lesbians and Gays)
• Diverse Voices is a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on the wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community
• Rainbow Service, Relationships Australia provides a relationship counselling service for the LGBTQIA+ community
• Open Doors Youth Service supports LGBTQIA+ young people, providing services such as case management, social groups, counselling, assistance with housing, employment, education etc, and emergency supply of food, toiletries and clothing
• Queensland Aids Council provides a number of services and resources for the LGBTQIA+ community:
• The LGBTI Legal Service Inc is a non-profit and unfunded community-based legal service
• QLD Police LGBTI Liaison Officers is a partnership program between the Queensland Police and the LGBTQIA+ community

LGBTQIA+ friendly health services:

• Gladstone Road Medical Centre
• Stonewall Medical Centre
• Holdsworth House Medical Practice