Building Connection

On Sunday 17 May, Multiplex raised rainbow flags across Australia to celebrate the 30th anniversary of International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). This day represents the occasion the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. It is the second consecutive year that Multiplex has shown their support for the day.

Over 52 rainbow flags were raised on Multiplex sites in WA, NSW, Victoria and Queensland, including some of Victoria’s landmark new towers at Australia 108, Premier Tower and Capitol Grand.

Where sites were yet to have cranes or had recently dismantled cranes, flags and posters were hung inside offices to mark the occasion.

Multiplex CEO John Flecker said, “IDAHOBIT is an opportunity for us to celebrate diversity at Multiplex and support our LGBTIQ colleagues, while making a clear statement against discrimination in our workplace.

“It is important to me that our people feel safe – physically and mentally – to be their whole selves at work. We want an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and encouraged to express their ideas and opinions, and able to reach their full potential.

“I was really proud to see how well our sites embraced the day once again this year, and importantly, how it opened up discussion about inclusivity across our business and the construction industry more broadly.”

Multiplex started its Diversity and Inclusion committee in early 2019, being driven by the need for the construction industry to be more inclusive. As well as supporting IDAHOBIT, the committee has organised a number of events and initiatives to help promote diversity within the industry.

This includes working with a group called Queers in Property (QIPs) to help start a network for LGBTIQ+ people in property and construction. The group aims to connect and support one another by building a safe and inclusive community, and change attitudes in the industry.

Podcast Alert! For those who missed our broadcast with the JOY 94.9 #GotMoney show with Elizabeth Jackson last year, the podcast is now live via the link below. Check it out to learn more about QIP and our aspirations.

Thanks to Building Connection for sitting down with us to understand some of the challenges in the property and construction for queer folk.

So proud of Queerleader Victoria Dixon Project Coordinator and Diversity Champion at Multiplex who was recently interviewed by Gazella Blog to talk about about the importance of diversity for property and construction companies. A big thank you to Gazella for helping us shine a light on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in our sector.

In Tory’s words ”being a part of QIPs was about looking beyond self-centred pursuits and towards what I might be able to bring into someone else’s life. I realised by being afraid and invisible I wasn’t helping anyone, not even myself. Empowerment is all about supporting and providing opportunity for one another.”

Following our successful launch Queers in Property featured on Page 11 of the Herald Sun on 17 October 2019! Thank you to Property Council Victoria for your support. We look forward to breaking barriers and continuing to grow our member-focused network in Melbourne.

A movement known as Queers in Property (QIP) has formed in Melbourne in an effort to create a platform for LGBTIQ+ people in property and construction to connect and support one another by building a safe and inclusive community and help change attitudes in a heteronormative industry. 

With research across all industries revealing that 32 per cent of LGBTIQ+ people are out to everyone at work, QIP noted that these (already alarmingly low) statistics did not seem to ring true for those in property and construction.

QIP found the level of openness and acceptance didn’t seem to align with available research and in certain sectors within the industry, members still find it difficult to be open about their same-sex attraction or gender diversity.  

Their research also found that many LGBTIQ+ individuals are still concerned that being out might negatively impact their career prospects and professional development, or worse, make them a target for bullying and harassment.

It is for this reason that Queers In Property was formed, led by Meg Patten, Marketing Manager at Riverlee; Ben Rowe, Senior Development Manager at Riverlee and Rossco Karabeles, National Director at The Property Agency, who collectively boast over 30 years of industry experience, as well as a board of energetic and committed QIPs.

Meg explained that the property industry can feel intimidating and even unsafe to anyone who is not a straight identifying cisgender male or female.

“Being a queer woman in property isn’t easy, simply because we are a double minority and there isn’t many. By growing a member focussed network and being visible, we hope to empower our LGBTIQ+ community to be their most authentic self in an industry that is not always inclusive.

We aim to build a diverse queer movement representing all identities and abilities through the power of visibility. Through seeing each other and being seen, we challenge discriminatory attitudes, increase self-worth and champion acceptance,” she said. 

With an underlying purpose to change the heteronormative attitudes and constructs within an industry shaped by privilege, Queers in Property builds inclusivity and representation and cultivates a community of queerleaders; a queer person who is a champion of change within the property industry.

The first official QIP networking event launched at The Commons QV on Friday, October 11 and coincided with National Coming Out Day, a day which honours a courageous journey for any LGBTIQ+ person.

The event, fittingly named The Coming Out, shone a light on the challenges that LGBTIQ+ people face in the workplace and focused on empowering everyone to bring their most authentic selves to work.

The panel of speakers included Chris McCue Director of Architecture and Interiors at Carr, January Jones Lifestyle Editor at Domain, and Victoria Dixon Graduate at Multiplex.

QIP co-founder Rossco Karabeles said the event acted as a catalyst to encourage every queer to connect with each other and to build their own contact network for professional and personal support. 

“We want to break the stigma that queer people face within the property industry, help educate and facilitate good practice, queer policies and encourage a safe environment where the queer community can come together to champion, promote, support and empower themselves, ultimately walking away with a sense of purpose,” said Ross.

The property industry can feel intimidating and even unsafe to someone who is not a straight-identifying male or female, reveals a new Melbourne-based property group.

To counter this, Queers in Property has been created with the aim to build a safe and inclusive community for LGBTIQ+ people working in the property and construction sectors, what it describes as typically a heteronormative environment.

A recent study by Diversity Council of Australia and RMIT University, which involved conversations with more than 1600 members of the LGBTIQ+ community, shows the significance for organisations to build on diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

“Being a queer woman in property isn’t easy,” Riverlee marketing manager and Queers in Property founder Meg Patten said.

“Simply because we are a double minority and there isn’t many.”

“By growing a member-focused network and being visible, we hope to empower our LGBTIQ+ community to be their most authentic self in an industry that is not always inclusive.”

Thank you The Urban Developer for sharing QIPs and most importantly the research on why inclusive environments are important.