cohealth wins second consecutive platinum honour at 2026 Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards

For the second year in row, leading not-for-profit community health organisation cohealth has been named Platinum Service Provider at the 2026 Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards.  

The annual awards recognise and celebrate the incredible efforts of organisations and individuals working to make health and human services safer, more inclusive, and affirming for LGBTQ+ communities across Australia. 

Based on results from the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI) — the national benchmark on LGBTQ+ inclusion within the health and wellbeing sectors — providers are assessed on the extent to which they systematically embed LGBTQ+ inclusion across their communications, privacy and data practices, community engagement, workforce capability, referral pathways, stakeholder relationships, risk management, and continuous improvement processes. 

“Platinum recognition is the highest recognition obtainable in the Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards,” says cohealth Chief Executive Nicole Bartholomeusz, “and I am so proud that we have now achieved this status for the second year in a row.” 

“I would like to thank everyone across cohealth who plays a role every day in creating safe and inclusive environments,” Nicole adds. “By allowing people to show up as their full selves, we can ensure that we are meeting their unique health and social needs and supporting them to thrive.” 

cohealth has a long-standing commitment to promoting human rights and health equity. We recognise that LGBTQ+ people face significant barriers accessing health care services and employment and are committed to removing these barriers and working towards health equity. We strive for LGBTQ+ health equity, and our aim is that all LGBTQ+ staff and clients have a safe, inclusive and affirmative experience of cohealth, every time.  

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more information: Adam Bennett adam.bennett@cohealth.org.au or 0424 147 230 

About cohealth: cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that provides low-cost and free local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, aged care and counselling, and many specialist health services in Melbourne’s CBD, inner-north and inner-west, and on the east coast of Tasmania.