Learning with Pride: Shaping LGBTIQ+ Inclusion at KEO Care
Why Inclusion matters at KEO Care? At KEO Care, we believe every person deserves to feel safe, seen, and respected — whether they are a participant, a family member, or part of our team. Our values of empowerment, connection, kindness, striving for excellence, and lifelong learning guide us in building an environment where diversity isn’t just accepted, it’s celebrated. LGBTIQ+ inclusion is a vital part of this. We know that when people can be their authentic selves, they can thrive, and our work together has a greater impact.
Our Journey with Rainbow Health Australia
Recently two members of the Quality and Projects team (that would be us, Marjorie and Jade) had the privilege of completing Rainbow Health Australia’s HOW2 Program and Work with Pride training. Facilitated by Rainbow Health Australia, the program combines research, lived experience, and evidence-based strategies. You can learn more about Rainbow Health Australia here: https://rainbowhealthaustralia.org.au/ The HOW2 program is a practical, step-by-step learning journey for organisations looking to embed LGBTIQ+ inclusion and safety into everything they do. We joined because we wanted to make sure KEO Care wasn’t just talking about inclusion — we wanted to make it part of KEO Care’s DNA.
A Shared Vision for Inclusion
We started with conversations around creating a common purpose which challenged us to think about what true inclusion means in our context. We explored how a shared organisational vision — supported by leadership and embraced by every team member — is the foundation of meaningful change. For KEO Care, this means embedding inclusive values into recruitment, service delivery, team culture, and participant engagement.
Acknowledging Barriers to the LGBQTI+ Community
We started with conversations around creating a common purpose which challenged us to think about what true inclusion means in our context. We explored how a shared organisational vision — supported by leadership and embraced by every team member — is the foundation of meaningful change. For KEO Care, this means embedding inclusive values into recruitment, service delivery, team culture, and participant engagement.
Practical Skills for Everyday Inclusion
We developed tangible everyday skills for creating safe and affirming environments to embed Pride into practice. We learned about using inclusive language, respectful pronoun use, and recognising the importance of not making assumptions about gender, sex characteristics and identity. We explored how to affirm identities and appropriate responses if mistakes are made and how to take consistent actions like challenging discriminatory language.
Designing Solutions That Last
We developed ideas for embedding inclusion into our policies, training programs, and client engagement processes. This includes actions like reviewing forms and documents to make sure they reflect diverse identities, creating more opportunities for staff learning, and building partnerships with LGBTIQ+ community organisations. The key is to make inclusion part of how KEO Care operates every day, in every space.
What This Means for Our Participants and Team
When LGBTIQ+ people feel safe and respected, they are more likely to engage, share openly, and build trust, which leads to better outcomes. For participants, this can mean accessing the supports they need knowing they are safe, respected and have their identity affirmed. For our team, it’s about working in an environment where diversity is celebrated, leading to a stronger, more connected workplace. Inclusion benefits everyone, and it strengthens the care we provide.
Looking Ahead – Our Ongoing Commitment
Completing the HOW2 program is just the beginning. We’re committed to continuing this journey by reviewing our practices, listening to our LGBTIQ+ colleagues and participants, and seeking new ways to grow. Inclusion is not a “one and done” task — it’s an ongoing process of learning, unlearning, and adapting. At KEO Care, we’re proud to take this step forward, and we’re excited to see how these changes will shape a more inclusive future for all.
Support
If this blog has raised anything you’d like to talk about, support is available.
Switchboard Victoria | 1800 184 527 / https://www.switchboard.org.au/
Rainbow Door | Phone: 1800 729 367 Text: 0480 017 246 https://www.rainbowdoor.org.au/
Qlife | Phone: 1800 184 527 https://qlife.org.au/
