The Pride in Sport awards, run by ACON, marked ten years of work to make Australian sport more inclusive in 2026. The ceremony brought together athletes, administrators, volunteers and allies to acknowledge organisations and individuals whose actions have improved participation and safety for LGBTQIA+ people. Photographs from the night by Dean Arcuri captured celebratory moments, while winners reflected the breadth of activity from national governing bodies to community teams. The programme underlines how deliberate policy, visible leadership and targeted programs translate into measurable cultural change across both elite and grassroots levels of sport.
Key messages from the event
Pride in Sport’s National Program Manager emphasised that inclusion does not occur accidentally and highlighted the collective progress within Australian sport. The awards served as more than recognition; they were a snapshot of how consistent effort—through education, policy reform and community engagement—drives better outcomes for underrepresented participants. Winners and finalists demonstrated practical steps such as updated codes of conduct, accessible facilities and visible allyship. Across the program, the emphasis was on sustainable change rather than one-off gestures, with several initiatives chosen for their measurable impact on participation, wellbeing and retention of LGBTQIA+ people in sporting environments.
Winners and notable achievements
The night featured a range of awardees from different levels of the sporting system. UWA Sport took Sporting Organisation of the Year, while the Perth Pythons were named Community Sport of the Year. Volleyball NSW received Most Improved Sporting Organisation. The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Innovation Award was shared by the Trans Health Equity Initiative from Let’s Go Surfing and AO Pride Day from Tennis Australia. Leadership and community-building work were recognised too: James E. Shields III of Emerald City Kickball Australia won the Executive Leadership Award for using sport as a vehicle for social connection and belonging in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and now Brisbane.
Individual and community stories
Several winners brought personal testimony about the difference sport can make. Jacqueline Shields of JOY 94.9 accepted the Positive Media Award, thanking guests and contributors to her long-running program. Lauren Barbour from Melbourne Spectres Basketball Club won Inclusive Coach of the Year, describing basketball as a means of building friendship and community. Sharon Deans from Surf Life Saving Australia was acknowledged as LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year and dedicated her award to John Baker for his public advocacy on trans rights. Sandra Lie of the Shuttle Swingers was named LGBTQ+ Role Model, speaking about the lifesaving importance of visible, culturally sensitive community clubs for people from diverse backgrounds.
Program history, tiers and recognition
The Pride in Sport program began in 2016 and the awards have been presented annually since 2017, making the 2026 ceremony a milestone tenth anniversary. The awards are the program’s signature event and are among the most established recognitions of sport-based inclusion in the country. Organisations are assessed and placed into tiered categories to reflect their policies and practice: Platinum tier honorees included Hockey ACT, Tennis Australia, Macquarie University Sport, Touch Football Australia, Netball Victoria and UWA Sport. Several national bodies, state associations and community organisations were listed across Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers, underlining how inclusion is progressing at different paces through the sporting system.
Why the awards matter
Recognition through the awards does more than honour effort: it provides models for replication and highlights practical interventions that work. By spotlighting policy change, education programs and visible leadership, Pride in Sport supports knowledge-sharing so other organisations can adapt successful approaches. The awards also reinforce the principle that sport thrives when it is accessible and safe for all participants—improving mental health, community cohesion and performance pathways. Allyship, clear governance and targeted programs were repeatedly cited as the ingredients that translate goodwill into real change.
Looking ahead
As Pride in Sport moves beyond its tenth anniversary, organisers and award recipients signalled renewed commitment to embed inclusion across every level of sport. The message from the night was practical and forward-looking: maintain momentum through evaluation, celebrate incremental wins and prioritise underrepresented voices in decision-making. For readers and organisations seeking to engage, the awards provide both inspiration and concrete examples of what works to make Australian sport more welcoming for LGBTQIA+ people and allies.