Hockey NSW Partners with Pride in Sport & Bentstix Hockey Club

Hockey NSW has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of LGBTQ people. 

ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.

Being a Pride in Sport member means changing practices and working towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders.

David Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey NSW, is excited about the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ inclusion for sport and recreation programs at Hockey NSW.

“Hockey is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. We aim to further our inclusive practices so that everyone feels welcome”, Thompson said.

Furthermore, Hockey NSW have also entered into a special partnership with Bentstix Hockey Club – a proud LGBTIQA+ hockey club from Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.

Through the partnership, Benstix will assist Hockey NSW in the completion of the Pride in Sport Index and offer support and feedback on areas of the organisation where improvements can be made in regards to inclusion.

Bentstix will also work in collaboration with Hockey NSW to help develop, plan and deliver key initiatives that promote greater inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders within hockey.

“Bentstix are a fantastic example of a wonderfully inclusive and active hockey club here in NSW that genuinely promote participation from all areas of the community,” Thompson said.

“They have a number of well-respected professionals from the LGBTIQA+ community as members of the club, who can provide educated and insightful advice to Hockey NSW on inclusion within our sport throughout NSW.”

Dr Oliver Barrett, President of Bentstix Hockey Club is looking forward to working alongside Hockey NSW on this new venture.

“Bentstix Hockey Club is incredibly proud to partner with Hockey NSW to further facilitate the inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ community in hockey,” said Barrett.

“It is fantastic to see Hockey NSW committing to the Pride in Sport Index this year, and we are very pleased to be able to be able to help them with their genuine quest to break down barriers and promote inclusion for all in hockey.”

Hockey NSW's partnership with Bentstix Hockey Club and involvement with Pride In Sport supports our ongoing strategic commitment to LGBTIQA+ inclusion and engagement within our sport. Hockey NSW has adopted the Hockey Australia's Guidelines for the Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Community Hockey  and is committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all people, including those of diverse sexualities and genders.

Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTQ people felt mentally well within their sport, with 44% of people who are not an active LGBTQ Ally saying they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.

Data from the Out on the Fields study showed that 80% of people have either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, with 75% believing that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.

Data from the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia showing that LGBTQ young people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to the general population, with transgender people aged 18 and over nearly eleven times more likely.

Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQ people has never been more important.

“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Hockey NSW is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members across NSW” Newell said.

“Congratulations to Hockey NSW for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.”

Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sexuality and gender diverse sporting inclusion program for the Australian sporting sector.
 

ABOUT PRIDE IN SPORT 

Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTQ employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators. It is part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, which provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion. All funds generated through membership and ticketed events go back into the work of Pride in Sport, actively working alongside sporting organisations, clubs and participants to make Australian sport inclusive of LGBTQ communities. For more information, visit the Pride Inclusion Programs website here.

ABOUT THE PRIDE IN SPORT INDEX

The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that provides the opportunity for all national and state sporting organisations to have their LGBTQ related initiatives, programs and policies reviewed, measured and monitored. An initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 (the world cup of gay rugby), it was developed alongside an advisory group that includes representatives from the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League (AFL), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Football Federation Australia (FFA), Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Basketball Australia and Golf Australia. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website here.