The GLAAD Media Institute recently finished its 2022 training tour of Australia! The Equality Project, a national charity dedicated to affirming and supporting LGBTQ Australians, worked with GLAAD’s Media Institute Vice President, Ross Murray, to lead a tour across cities Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Wangaratta. Offerings included a multi-day masterclass for Australians interested in learning more about LGBTQ advocacy, as well as supporting employee leaders looking to make their organizations more LGBTQ-welcoming and inclusive. This advocacy masterclass collaboration was reintroduced after a three year hold due to the pandemic.

This training tour is the fifth and longest tour GLAAD has done alongside The Equality Project in Australia. The Advocacy Masterclass teaches participants how to become media advocates for the LGBTQ community. This starts with participants learning how to share their own stories, while learning how to reach their target audience with stories and messages that resonate and engage the media with the issues impacting the LGBTQ community today. Suicide prevention, healthcare, elders, and transgender representation were key topics discussed by participants in the training, among several others. These topics are important to speak on because inauthentic representation and lack of access to healthcare can lead to detrimental results for the LGBTQ community. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health and wellness have become even more important for queer and transgender people, who tend to experience more psychological distress. This year, as it has in years past, the masterclass allowed participants to delve into truly relevant topics and come away with a stronger understanding of the subject matter.

Ross Murray also met with The Australian Film Television and Radio School, (AFTRS) a school dedicated to the education and training of students’ creative talents in both screen arts and broadcast industries. Murray spoke with faculty about the of teaching students the impact of LGBTQ inclusivity in media representaiton, the workplace and in the classroom. Over the years, he has also presented to students about LGBTQ representation in the media and GLAAD’s work, including giving a high level introduction to GLAAD’s film and television entertainment reports.

In Brisbane this week working with four Queensland Universities to support them to Be The Change As Jac Tomlins put it, “we brainstormed a bucketload of practical ideas”. It was a real treat to work with this group of highly motivated individuals.#lgbtiqa pic.twitter.com/1JBwGUuy2Q

— The Equality Project ® (@EqualityProj_au) September 9, 2022

Ross Murray also supported work in an Equality Project training called “Building a Rainbow Positive Organization.” It is a tailored program for individuals or staff wanting to acquire a better understanding of LGBTQ health and inclusive practices. Participants are taught about minority stress, visibility and cultural safety, and insights into the latest research on the health and well-being of LGBTQ communities. A goal of this training is to help organizations learn how to become Rainbow Tick accredited, an accreditation process proving that their organization is officially welcoming and supportive to LGBTQ employees.

We’re proud to create space for challenge and growth for our advocates in this week’s Advocacy Masterclass in Melbourne The work people in our community are doing to advocate for themselves and others is inspiring pic.twitter.com/tYvKmfm86x

— The Equality Project ® (@EqualityProj_au) September 2, 2022

Since its partnership with GLAAD Media Institute, The Equality Project has trained over three thousand individuals, whether they are dedicated activists or everyday people intending to create positive change in their world. Learn more and register for one of their upcoming courses in the United States! https://www.glaad.org/institute