WorldPride is an event that promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual plus (LGBTQIA) issues on an international level through parades, festivals and other cultural activities. The inaugural WorldPride was held in Rome in 2000. Cities which have hosted WorldPride since 2000 include Jerusalem, London, Toronto, Madrid, New York and Copenhagen (2021).

Primary purpose of the role

Reporting into the Sydney WorldPride (SWP) Executive Producer with a dotted line to the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Executive Producer, and working closely with staff across both organisations, the Accessibility Manager oversees and assists with the facilitation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

The Accessibility Manager’s key purpose is to address the barriers that D/deaf and disabled people face when accessing SWP/SGLMG events. This role includes sourcing, contracting, logistics, general administration and implementing accessibility initiatives for SWP/SGLMG staff, volunteers, performers and audiences.

To succeed in this role, you should have excellent time management and communication skills, as you’ll collaborate with suppliers, event agencies and internal teams to deliver results on deadlines.

Key Accountabilities

• Implement the Disability Inclusion Action Plan in collaboration with key SWP/SGLMG staff (such as Event Producers, Marketing Managers, etc).
• Periodically report on the progress of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
• Work with the external Disability Consultant to ensure that the expectations outlined in SWP/SGLMG’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan are met at all festival events and venues.
• Gather and collate accessibility information from all venues and events for dissemination to potential audiences (e.g. accessibility information about festival venues to be shared on the SWP/SGLMG’s website).
• Work with the Marketing Teams to ensure the greatest possible accessibility of the SWP/SGLMG website and all marketing and promotional material.
• Work with the Marketing Team and Box Office Team to ensure accessibility requirements are met for the festival ticketing system.
• Work with the Operations & Programming Team to ensure the greatest possible accessibility of the SWP/SGLMG registration platform.
• Conduct outreach to the D/Deaf and disabled community, including participating in SWP/SGLMG’s disability working group, to discover existing barriers to participation, develop strategies for removing and overcoming those barriers, and encourage participation.
• Work with D/Deaf and disabled artists to ensure that their access requirements are met at all stages of the presenting process.
• Be an advocate for access, and the rights of D/Deaf and disabled people within SWP/SGLMG.
• Have an in depth knowledge of the barriers faced by D/Deaf and disabled people.
• Have extensive knowledge of and experience facilitating physical access provision, the provision of access languages and other access requirements.
• Conduct post-event analysis and legacy strategy reporting for SGLMG’s ongoing accessibility journey in 2024 and beyond.

Essential requirements

• 2 years or more in a similar role, ideally with experience in Accessibility Manager for events.
• Proven understanding of Disability Inclusion Action Plans and their implementation.
• Demonstrated relationship management skills with a proven record maintaining strong relationships across numerous stakeholder groups both internal and external.
• Ability to work closely with all SWP/SGLMG staff, as well as the accessibility working group and external stakeholders to ensure that the festival program and events are as accessible as possible (including physical access, access language provision, other access requirement provisions).
• Collaborate with the Event Producers to ensure the greatest possible accessibility at all festival events and venues.
• Work with artists and producers (including Pride Amplified event organisers) to encourage and facilitate the provision of access languages and other access requirements at festival events.
• Work with the wider Operations and Programming team and other executives to find opportunities for collaboration, funding and partnership that provide support and opportunities for D/Deaf and disabled artists.
• Work with the wider Operations and Programming team to gather, analyse and report on access related data including access provisions, % of accessible, signed etc. events, number of participating D/Deaf and disabled artists etc.
• As required, act as a public spokesperson for the festival in relation to accessibility, access & inclusion related programs, the rights of D/Deaf and disabled people and other projects as appropriate.
• Maintain and help other team members maintain an awareness of other barriers to entry that intersect with access requirements (economic disadvantage, cultural and language barriers etc.)
• Understanding of the administrative, technical and regulatory requirements that are applicable to accessibility in event management.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work well under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively both autonomously, and in a team capacity, showing initiative and balancing competing demands.
• An understanding of and direct experience working with the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities.
• An alignment with SWP/SGLMG values.
• A willingness for local/ domestic travel (if applicable) and working out of hours as required.
• Prior experience in access provisions for event organisations.
• Desirable – Lived experience of disability and/or D/deafness.
• Desirable – Ability to communicate using AUSLAN.
• Desirable – Own contact base/connections within D/deaf and/or disabled community.
• Desirable – have previous experience with a project management software such as Monday.com.

Sydney WorldPride strongly encourages applications from the First Nations and LGBTQIA+ communities. If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime event experience, working with a passionate and driven team in a wonderfully inclusive environment please apply. 

For further information please visit: https://[email protected]/