MLHD celebrates diversity at Wagga Mardi Gras

MLHD will be collaborating with their colleagues at Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network for their float, which will be part of the parade on Saturday 11 March.
 

The Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras aims to raise visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities in the Riverina, providing an opportunity for people to express their creativity and celebrate their identity.

The whole community is invited along for the ride, including an evening of amazing floats, laughs and fun.

Celebrating at the Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras is just one of many initiatives focused on fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging at MLHD.

Jill Ludford, MLHD Chief Executive, said the district is finalising the first ever MLHD inclusion and belonging action plan outlining goals and directions for continuing to make MLHD a place where everyone is celebrated and able to flourish.  

“For the first time in 2022 we held the MLHD Festival of Inclusion, which was inspired by our friends and pioneers at Nepean Blue Mountains LHD who have been holding this festival for some years,” Ms Ludford said.

The Festival of Inclusion, held in March is a month-long celebration of the many ways MLHD recognises and includes all people in the community.

MLHD will hold a range of activities, including the official festival launch on Monday 6 March. Guest speaker sessions will be hosted throughout the month to foster a greater sense of understanding around inclusion.

“Having a focus on inclusion and belonging and a health presence at festivals such as the Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras reminds the community that we are an organisation that you can safely go to if you need healthcare, no matter how you identify,” Ms Ludford said.

“We want our rural and regional communities to know, we will honour and respect you, and provide care that is centred around what you need as an individual.

MLHD is committed to supporting implementation of the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027.

The Strategy provides direction to all NSW Health organisations and staff, so that LGBTIQ+ people receive the best healthcare and achieve optimal health and wellbeing. This includes the health, wellbeing and safety of NSW Health staff who are LGBTIQ+.

“A truly inclusive workplace provides people with a sense of belonging, enhances engagement, innovation, creativity, and overall happiness at work.” 

MLHD encourages a diverse and engaged workforce that more clearly reflects, understands the needs of patients and consumers, leading to better person-centred health outcomes for our communities.

“We are a workforce at its best when we enable our people to achieve excellence and empower our staff to provide the best value-based care outcomes for all the people of or diverse communities here in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District,” Ms Ludford said.