The programme was originally developed by ACON, which was established in 1985 and is now Australia’s largest LGBTQ+ health organisation, focusing on inclusion, diversity, health and well-being, HIV prevention and support services.

The Pride in Sport programme is the only sporting inclusion programme specifically designed to assist National and State sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of employees, players, coaches, volunteers and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.

Mark Sinderberry, the chief executive of UniSport Australia, claimed he is excited about the role that Pride in Sport Australia will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around inclusion in university sport for students who are LGBTQ+, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning.

"UniSport Australia is pleased to become a member of Pride in Sport," he said.

"We look forward to improving our programmes, events and opportunities to ensure they are more inclusive and accessible for all."

Data from the Out on the Fields Study On Homophobia in Sport published last year showed that 80 per cent of people have either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, with 75 per cent believing that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event. 

Additional data from the National LGBTQ+ Health Alliance revealed 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 11 times more likely.

Beau Newell, the national programme manager of Pride in Sport Australia, claimed 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, UniSport Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, members, and university sporting organisations across the country," Newell said.

"Congratulations to UniSport Australia for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive."