Melba Support Worker, Matthew, shares what Pride Month means to him

This Pride Month, people across Australia and around the world are coming together to celebrate diversity, reflect on how far we’ve come, but also recognise the work that still lies ahead in creating truly inclusive communities. 

For Matthew, a support worker at Melba, Pride Month is both a celebration and a reminder of why visibility and belonging are so incredibly critical. 

Matthew balances supporting others at work with studying towards his nursing degree. This Pride Month, he’ll also be taking time to celebrate with his partner and connect with a community that’s helped shape who he is today. 

As an openly gay man, Matthew understands the importance of having spaces where people can simply be themselves. 

“Pride month is important to me because this month, the community that are all in the same boat can just come together, that have probably had people that haven’t been kind to them because of who they are,” Matt said. “It’s a time where everyone just feels welcomed.” 

For Matthew, Pride Month is also an opportunity for conversation and understanding. 

While awareness and acceptance have grown significantly over the years, many LGBTQIA+ Australians continue to experience discrimination in their daily lives, including at work, in education, healthcare and housing. 

That’s why Matthew believes curiosity and education are so important. 

“I think my message would be – instead of judging what other people do, why don’t we all just find out a bit more about it? You are who you are, and I think that’s true for all of us.” 

His perspective reflects something that sits at the heart of Melba’s values: that every person deserves to feel respected, safe and valued for who they are. 

It’s also one of the reasons Matthew recently joined Rainbow Melba, Melba’s LGBTQIA+ and allies working group. The group helps create a safe and inclusive space where everyone can express their true selves without fear of discrimination. 

For Matthew, having a dedicated group like Rainbow Melba has been an empowering experience. 

“It’s great because this is the first time I’ve worked for a company that has a group like this.” 

Now, he’s helping spread the word and encouraging others to get involved. 

At its core, his message is a simple one. “Love is love. That’s my motto, and I love it.” 

Why Pride Month still matters 

While Pride Month is a celebration, it’s also a reminder that inclusion can’t be taken for granted. Recent reports continue to highlight challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ Australians, including: 

• Conversion practices are outlawed in Victoria but remain legal in other parts of the country. 

• A 2025 report found that LGBTIQA+ people are less likely to be out at work in 2025 than they were in 2022. 

• Intersex infants still face invasive, cosmetic medical procedures across most of the country. 

• The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Equal Identities Report highlighted ongoing discrimination against trans and gender diverse people when accessing education, healthcare, workplaces, housing and justice systems. 

• Religious exemptions continue to legally allow the removal of LGBTIQA+ teachers and students in some schools and workplaces. 

These realities reinforce why visibility, allyship and inclusive communities remain so important. 

At Melba, inclusion means recognising and celebrating the many identities, experiences and perspectives that make up our community. It means creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves and where everyone can belong.