Pride Month is a chance to celebrate LGBTQ+ employees in our workplace. Like all diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives, it’s important to make sure no one is left out. Using an intersectional approach helps us understand how different parts of a person’s identity can shape their experience at work.
Intersectionality refers to how different aspects of a person’s identity expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination that greatly increase their marginalisation.
How can we use an intersectional approach in D&I work?
DCA’s Intersectionality at Work guide provides practical ways to apply intersectionality in D&I work.
These focus on two key steps: building understanding and taking action. This includes learning more about intersectionality, understanding how power works in your workplace, choosing the right approach, and making sure your D&I work is shaped by the people most affected.
Together, these steps provide a practical way to build a workplace that is more inclusive and fair for everyone.
Case Study: Supporting the intersection of neurodiversity and LGBTIQ+ at QBE Australia
Inclusion has long been an important focus for QBE in the workplace.
With increasing recognition of neurodivergence in the workplace, QBE launched its Neurodiversity Workplace Guide and the Not Atypical podcast series in 2023, with three goals in mind:
- Raise awareness and start conversations about neurodiversity, reflecting the lived experiences of our people and their families.
- Explore research on the intersectional experience of neurodiversity within the LGBTQ+ community.
- Share these resources and experiences with other Australian workplaces to enhance broader capability and awareness.
The QBE Not Atypical podcast series brought together leading industry voices and QBE employees to share their unique lived experiences, while also importantly unpacking the challenges and assumptions faced by neurodivergent people who identify as members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
QBE Australia continues to contribute to industry forums, reinforcing the importance of intersectionality and providing practical strategies to support neurodivergent LGBTIQ+ employees through inclusive, accessible, and flexible approaches.
QBE Australia is also proud to have been recognised as a Platinum Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) employer since 2023.
You can access the QBE Neurodiversity Workplace Guide and the Not Atypical podcast series here.
DCA’s Intersectionality Fundamentals knowledge program, shows how overlapping social and professional identities — and the systems that shape them — influence workplace experiences, barriers, and outcomes. By understanding these dynamics, you can be aware of blind spots, reduce unintended inequities, and lead with greater clarity.
Most importantly, participants will learn how to apply an intersectional lens to policies, practices, and everyday decisions