LGBTI JOBS SITE LAUNCHES IN AN AUSTRALIAN-FIRST

MAY 17^th 2016 – For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LGBTI JOBS SITE LAUNCHES IN AN AUSTRALIAIN-FIRST

Building an inclusive workplace where diversity is respected

LGBTI Jobs officially launches today in an Australian-first to assist all graduates and jobseekers to connect with organisation who are actively engaged in LGBTI inclusion initiatives. Their new job seekers platform is designed to build an inclusive workplace culture where diversity is recognised and respected. Created by a leadership team who are heavily involved in the LGBTI movement, the site was designed through a collaboration of experience and knowledge of the community and the web industry. The sites unique difference is that it caters for a community that often faces massive discrimination and assists both the job seeker and the organisation in a practical way.

Simon Ginsberg, Co-Founder and Director, created the job seekers platform to encourage people from all walks of life to apply for advertised job roles, saying “You may not identify as part of the rainbow family but simply want to work in a more inclusive and understanding work culture.”

LGBTI Jobs includes features such as:

Pre-Screened Businesses - To ensure LGBTI Jobs are 100% certain that all companies advertising on our jobs board have a truly inclusive culture and policies in place to provide a completely safe workplace for all employees, potential job advertisers must be screened via our LGBTI inclusivity compliance assessment.

Dedicated Support - LGBTI Jobs has a highly skilled team of experienced Recruiters and Web Developers ready to help with any enquiry. So if you are experiencing difficulties posting an advertisement or applying for your dream role, get in touch with us.

Education - LGBTI Jobs are also keen to assist your business in educating employees to ensure a truly inclusive workplace environment and culture.

Tailored Options - Do you have one job or ten jobs to fill? LGBTI Jobs have tailored advertisement packages suitable for micro companies through to multi-national corporates. Make an enquiry today via our online form and one of our consultants will be in touch to talk you through the options.

Branding - Our experienced Web Development and Design team are ready to integrate your brand via microsites and individual case studies to help raise your company profile as a diversity employer of choice.

Michelle Sheppard is one of the Co-Founders of LGBTI Jobs and is a radio host on Melbourne’s popular radio station Joy FM (94.9 FM). She has taken a strong lead on educating and bringing about awareness to the wider LGBTI community for years. Previously working in the IT sector, she now regularly contributes to policies for political agendas, appears on employment forums and is a strong advocate for the trans youth – she is also a TransWoman who has experienced discrimination in the workplace.

“When I was trying to return to my previous field of IT I faced many challenges. When talking to recruiters I wasn't sure if I should disclose that I was transgender when applying, because I felt they would unconsciously discriminate even though legally that's not allowed. Unfortunately, when I was up front about my transition, I was told by recruiters that “being transgender wasn’t a cultural fit” within the organisations for which they were arranging interviews” says Michelle.

Michelle continues, “Eventually I was lucky enough to get a break and was successful seeking full time employment. I was honest and open about my struggle and the employer empathised with my situation. Now I am one of only 20% of Australian transgender women who have full time employment earning more than $1000 a week.”

Simon Ginsberg (Founder) says, “LGBTI Jobs was born out of my strong belief in the need for everyone to feel they belong in a diverse and inclusive workplace. It’s extremely disheartening when in this day we still see such widespread discrimination. ‘Michelle’s’ story is sadly very typical of what we see in the workplace. We want to ensure that Michelle and others feel that they are not only recognised but are respected in their workplace.”

LGBTI Jobs officially launches today (17^th May 2016) in an Australian national-first and will assist all graduates and jobseekers to connect with organisations who actively engage in LGBTI inclusion initiatives.

For more information: www.lgbtijobs.com.au

Simon Ginsberg and Michelle Sheppard are available for interviews.

Private Lives 2 reports that only 30 % of trans and gender diverse men, and 32 % of trans and gender diverse women were employed. In contrast, the Tranznation study reports that 41.1 % of participants were in full-time employment. This compares poorly with the general population where 57 % of men across Australia are employed full-time.

Trans and gender diverse men and women were also more likely to earn less than men and women in the study, with 78 % of trans and gender diverse men and 71 % of trans and gender diverse women earning less than $1000 a week compared with 50 % of males and 57 % of females in the general population.

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Michelle Sheppard also wrote for the Australian Equality Party: http://www.equality.org.au/trans

www.emagine.agency (M: 0437 094 049; E: info@emagine.agency)