Hockey ACT Awarded Pride In Sport’s ‘2023 Sporting Organisation Of The Year'

HOCKEY ACT AWARDED PRIDE IN SPORT’S ‘2023 SPORTING ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR’

On Wednesday, May 10, Hockey ACT were extremely honoured to receive national recognition by being named ‘2023 Sporting Organisation of the Year’ at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards.

Hockey ACT were among a range of sporting organisations and individuals who have been named as the country’s best for LGBTQ inclusion at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards held last night in Melbourne at CENTREPIECE.

The awards showcase the results of the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) – a national benchmarking instrument used to access LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport. After being recognised as a Gold Tier Sporting Organisation in 2022, Hockey ACT claimed the award night’s highest honour in 2023, doing so with the highest Pride Index score in the award’s history.

This award recognises the work that Hockey ACT have undertaken in the LGBTQ space in 2022 including:

• Hosting Pride Round in July 2022 promoting visibility of LGBTQ community, raising awareness, education & training to the wider ACT region.
• Appointed seven Hockey ACT Pride Ambassadors.
• Improved governance among LGBTQ members.
• Continuing to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all members.

Hockey ACT’s Chief Executive Officer, Rob Sheekey was full of praise for the organisation’s willingness to make hockey in the Canberra region more inclusive.

“We are incredibly proud to have our efforts in this space recognised, we’ve set a new benchmark for ourselves and all sports organisations to make sport more welcoming to everyone. Hockey ACT put a lot of work into ensuring that we provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive community for all,” Sheekey said.

“This recognition is further proof to what a wonderful community the Hockey ACT family are. This award is for all our members.”

Hockey ACT wish to thank Pride in Sport, through the generous support of the ACT Government, for all their advice over recent years. Their invaluable insight was instrumental in helping Hockey ACT achieve Gold Tier status for second straight year, and improve our inclusion practices.

Hockey ACT’s work in the Pride and Diversity space wouldn’t be possible without the support from the Australian Capital Territory. We thank the ACT Government Office of LGBTQ Affairs for its generosity, knowledge, and support.

Hockey ACT also wish to acknowledge our fellow member associations Hockey Australia, Hockey Queensland, Hockey Victoria on achieving Silver Tier status as well as Hockey WA and ACT organisation, ANU Sport for achieving Bronze Tier status. We also congratulate former Hockey ACT member and Rugby 7’s superstar Sharni Williams for taking out the 2023 LGBTQ Out Role Model of the Year Award.

There will always be more work to do in the inclusion space, and Hockey ACT are committed to continuing this important work to make hockey a safe and inclusive environment for all.