DIVERSE-CITY
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
NOMINATED FOR
Adelaide
Profiles on this page have been prepared and submitted by nominees or their representatives as part of the South Australian Pride Awards process. Content reflects the words, achievements, and information provided in those submissions. Pride Adelaide has not edited profiles beyond minor formatting or clarity adjustments. Inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement, assessment, or ranking and does not influence the independent judging process.
How would you describe yourself or your work in one sentence?
Diverse-City - Bringing People Together!
Tell us a little about what you do
A small but astonishing group of people who live their colourful queer creed, and extend it to all who visit. Maybe it’s best described as a place where passion aligns with purpose. At Diverse-City, we 'outwork the ordinary'…we shift our priorities to focus on the work that actually matters - creating safe, welcoming, spaces for everyone, showcasing queer artists and supporting people to be the best and most authentic version of themselves.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
Diverse-City is proud of the wide-reaching impact we make in the queer community through creating:
• Respectful transgender-safe spaces and events that provide visibility, normalisation and community support of the trans community through monthly social events; performing artist opportunities and visual artist exhibitions. Some things we never thought we’d see when first opened Diverse-City! We’ve been honoured to facilitate marriage proposals at TransFormations; host a transgender couple’s wedding; we’ve witnessed massive positive changes in self-image, increased social connection, reduced anxiety and depression, and noted a rise in the number of transgender guests attending a wide cross section of mixed events in 2026.
• Mental health & wellbeing support - DC staff have undertaken suicide prevention ASSIST training, we’ve hosted social events for Survivors of Suicide groups and the 2025 LifeLine 9km Out of The Shadows Walk for suicide prevention was undertaken by all staff delivering corporate and community sponsorship; Diverse-City also sponsored and created events for Ben Roberts’ Concrete Connection Project for Mental Health which directly benefits many South Australians.
• Weekly and monthly social events have been created to and provide inclusive and welcoming spaces for people with Physical and Intellectual disabilities from South Australian Community for the Intellectually Disabled (SACID), Purple Orange and Mind Australia. Our 2026 Fringe saw the delivery of Kym McKenzie’s Fringe disabled artist’s Variety Cabaret.
• Workshops and Education – Diverse-City has moved outside the queer community to help deliver GLITF Immigration information sessions; Restorative Journeys Restorative Practice workshops; Anglicare Community Consultation Sessions; Equality Project Queer Project Funding Pitch Sessions; SAPOL security and aggressive behaviour management for businesses in the Grote Business Precinct, and a three month series of Cancer Council Cervical Screening talks to queer, trans, lesbian, neuro-diverse and disabled groups – the common theme – all of these initiatives save lives!!!
• In 2025 we showcased a plethora of queer talent: Nikki Carabetta’s Indigenous Art for NAIDOC month; Kleo Fox’s sellout Trivia Nights; Crush- Songs from the Musical; Bear men of Adelaide’s BearStock Art & Photographic Exhibition; and throughout November alone, 28 Queer artists dazzled audiences at DC throughout the Feast Festival and 4 queer author’s books were launched – the common theme – highlighting queer talent and LGBTIQA+ issues to mainstream audiences!!!
• Weekly Neuro-diverse and queer games nights and performances, Sapphic musicals, Annual Queer Drag Workshops, Transgender performers, regular Lesbian & Men’s Pub Nights, weekly Queer and Gay Men’s Coffee Groups, Book Clubs, Craft-A-Noons, Cards Groups, Women’s Dancing and fortnightly Social Deduction Games and Role Playing Games – the everyday things that knit a community together!
Why does your work matter to the community?
After so, so many one-on-one personal, patron conversations that grew out of grief into safety, acceptance and support we have been able to create a place of love and connection. We are proud, yet humbled, to have heard on too many occasions that “Diverse-City literally saved my life. I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for Diverse-City. You must keep going – our community needs more spaces like this!”
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
We're creating experiences that stick, cultures that uplift, and relationships that carry real weight. Creating impact takes resilience. It’s shaped by patience, compassion, and the willingness to stand up one more time than you fall, sometimes rising with shaky hands and a bruised ego. We believe that making a lasting impact requires a willingness to care deeply, act intentionally, and let your everyday choices quietly say, “You matter”.