ZAC CANNELL
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED FOR
Munno Para
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?
One person amongst many others who are doing amazing things in our communities.
Tell us a little about what you do
I am a bi+ trans masc individual who has been volunteering and supporting the community for more than a decade.
I believe in working and learning together so we learn from the past and uplift one another as best we can to live our most authentic lives. I stand on the shoulders of giants and alongside many, many other incredible volunteers who are all working to make our rainbow communities thrive.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
It’s hard to narrow down just one thing this year from some very proud moments over many years. Some highlights leading up to this year have been:
- I was part of changing legislation back in 2015/16 that saw birth certificate reform for trans and gender diverse folks in SA that saw removing the need for divorce and unwanted/unnecessary surgeries and medical procedures to change your birth certificate gender marker.
- I co-founded and co-facilitated the TransMascSA community group with Sean Miller and Kai Dibbins till I stepped back in December last year. The group, about to turn 10 years old, now supports over 1100 people on social media and in person across SA who connect to share resources and decrease isolation in their transition journeys.
- I also started the Trans Health SA website back in 2016. With the incredible support and skills of IT legend Skye Davies, we see the site receive hundreds of hits each month from people seeking health care information and community connection.
- I’ve been part of numerous research projects, provided a lived experience lens on academic courses and papers now delivered to medical students, delivered diversity and inclusion training and been a guest speaker at many services and events, and much more speaking about my lived experiences to let people know they aren’t alone.
- I have helped organise several Trans Day of Remembrance events. A moment of achievement was seeing the steps of Parliament House, Adelaide Oval, and the Adelaide Riverbank Footbridge lit up in the trans pride flag colours in memorial of gender diverse lives lost in 2021.
- I was part of the Rainbow Crows for several years as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer. A moment of pride was having written the slogan used on a banner that the ALF players ran through during Pride Round and being featured in an AFL short video about the negative impacts of homophobia and transphobia in football.
- I have also provided volunteer mental health support to several Minus 18 Queer Formals, have been part of Parkestone Foundation for several years which helps to fund community projects.
Why does your work matter to the community?
I don’t feel I do anything special, I just try to use the skills I have to support people to get the best outcomes in their world. I enjoy seeing people genuinely smile, connecting with others, and being able to express themselves authentically.
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
Winning the award or not, I feel grateful to be nominated and to celebrate so many incredible achievements in our communities.