National inclusion award for Warrnambool student adviser

A Deakin University Warrnambool Campus student adviser has been named Australia's regional workplace inclusion national champion.

Roxanne Thomson, who is also known as Bobby J. Thompson, won the Australian Workplace Equality Index gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) Regional workplace Inclusion Champion National Award in Sydney last Friday.

Roxanne said she was honoured and grateful to receive the award but added that it was not won in isolation.

She said the support of the Deakin University Equity and Diversity division, the Deakin Ally Network, management at Deakin University and many staff at the Deakin Warrnambool Campus had helped to protect her and others from discrimination.

Roxanne also thanked the Warrnambool community for its support.

"I don't take ownership of this award," she said. "It's a Deakin University Warrnambool Campus award and a Warrnambool community award. It's for everyone here in Warrnambool. I can say I've always felt safe and happy here. I don't want to move to a city, I have always been a country person and love Warrnambool. I appreciate that people have always embraced me and celebrated my eccentricity here in the city of Warrnambool."

Roxanne was nominated for the award by the Deakin University Equity and Diversity team, although she doesn't work for the team and supports all students in her role in Warrnambool.

The nomination featured articles about Roxanne, her decision to attend work as her male alter-ego Bobbi J, her involvement in the annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia events and her involvement in the GLBTIQ community.

Roxanne said the national honour "doesn't feel real".

"It's fantastic for Deakin because from an equity and diversity point of view we can see this is an inclusive and diverse university."

Roxanne said she hoped that feeling of comfort could spread across the wider community. "I don't want anyone to go to school, work, a sporting match or anywhere without feeling comfortable to be themselves."

She adopts this attitude in her work.

"I don't work specifically with GLBTI students but it's nice that I can integrate my values and passions in what I do. I work with so many different people from so many different cultural backgrounds and different ways of thinking, behaving and being. That's why I love my job."

The AWEI awards are designed to promote pride in diversity within the workforce.