Rainbow Tick Celebration

DPV Health celebrates Rainbow Tick certification to mark LGBTIQ inclusion

DPV Health is proud to announce that we have achieved Rainbow Tick certification. This independent national certification recognises the organisation’s inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) clients, employees and volunteers.

The Rainbow Tick Accreditation Program assesses organisations against standards developed by Rainbow Health Victoria. The accreditation assures LGBTIQ clients that DPV Health is committed to constantly improving the quality of care and service delivery for their community.

The certification is particularly important, because LGBTIQ people may face difficulties in accessing health services, compared to other Victorians. This is in part due to stigma and people’s concerns that their identity may not be affirmed and valued in healthcare settings.

On 25 March, all DPV Health employees came together in an internal company event to celebrate the Rainbow Tick Accreditation, with special guests, Ro Allen, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities and Simon Ruth, CEO of Thorn and Harbour.

Speaking at the event, Simon Ruth, CEO, Thorn and Harbour said, “It is incredibly important for services like DPV Health to put up the Rainbow Tick; to go through the effort to allow LGBTIQ people to feel welcome.”

Commissioner Ro Allen handed over the Rainbow Tick certificate to Don Tidbury, CEO, DPV Health, and in talking about the significance of this achievement for the LGBTIQ community said, “What you’ve done today is allow so many people in the northern regions and all the local governments that you cover to be able to have the choice and know that when they go in, they won’t be discriminated against.”

Obtaining Rainbow Tick certification is a step forward that both highlights and improves DPV Health’s ability to welcome and serve the LGBTIQ community.

In recent years, DPV Health has participated in several initiatives to improve LGBTIQ inclusion in our services and in the broader community. We are part of the Pride in the North Network, a group of local health organisations committed to providing inclusive services in Melbourne’s north.

The ‘You Are Who You Say You Are: DPV Needs Analysis’ was the first study of LGBTIQ needs in northern Melbourne. The report includes recommendations on support services, awareness and training required to improve services for LGBTIQ people.

DPV Health has implemented inclusion and diversity training that includes a module featuring the perspectives of LGBTIQ people. Our Inclusion Strategy, which guides the organisation on providing inclusive services, identifies the LGBTIQ community as one of the priority communities.

Don Tidbury, CEO DPV Health said, “To achieve Rainbow Tick certification on top of the hugely demanding COVID year is nothing less than amazing. Most importantly, over time it will make an enormous difference to the lives of LGBTIQ people in outer Northern Melbourne.”

Along with celebrations, DPV Health is committed to providing inclusive services as well as advocating for the health and wellbeing of the LGBTIQ communities.

Click here to learn more about our upcoming events and initiatives, or email us at populationhealth@dpvhealth.org.au to find out how you can get involved.