UOW Pride Symposium, Wellington 2026
Many Identities, Connected Communities: Pride, Culture, and Wellbeing
We are delighted to announce the University of Otago Wellington's Pride event for 2026.
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Venue: University of Otago Wellington, Newtown, Wellington
(Livestream also available)
We invite members and friends of the rainbow community, health professionals, researchers and educators to join us for a series of short talks and panel discussions focussed on improving health and wellbeing.
You are welcome to join us for some or all of the sessions.
Registration
Registration is required.
Session Overview
Our speakers will give talks on the following themes:
1. Health and wellbeing for LGBTQIA+ MVPFAFF+ Pacific communities
Manalagi: Co-creating Research for Pacific Rainbow+ Health and Wellbeing in Aotearoa-New Zealand
Malaeulu Seuta’afili Associate Professor Patrick Thomsen
Enhancing the mana of Pacific Rainbow LGBTQIA+ MVPFAFF+ communities in Aotearoa New Zealand through research is at the core of the Manalagi Project. In this keynote address, Associate Professor Thomsen discusses key findings from his research and implications for supporting wellbeing and healthcare for Pacific peoples in the rainbow community.
2. Updates on clinical and public health practices
Clinical practice - An update on gender affirming care guidelines and puberty blocker regulations
Dr Rona Carroll and Alex Ker
This session discusses the latest guidelines for gender affirming healthcare in Aotearoa, as well as a short update about the puberty blocker regulation.
Queer housing and wellbeing
Dr Lori Leigh
This session focusses on the significant and often overlooked challenges the queer community face in accessing safe, secure, and affirming housing. Hear about research into lived experiences, structural barriers, and community resilience.
3. Curriculum development for training of health professionals
2. Updates on clinical and public health practices
Clinical practice - An update on gender affirming care guidelines and puberty blocker regulations
Dr Rona Carroll and Alex Ker
This session discusses the latest guidelines for gender affirming healthcare in Aotearoa, as well as a short update about the puberty blocker regulation.
Queer housing and wellbeing
Dr Lori Leigh
This session focusses on the significant and often overlooked challenges the queer community face in accessing safe, secure, and affirming housing. Hear about research into lived experiences, structural barriers, and community resilience.
Staff and students from University of Otago will discuss a range of previously completed work and upcoming research to upscale and improve the training of medical and other health professional students to better address the healthcare needs of people in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Talks include:
Trust and collaboration a hard worked path into
the future
Mani Mitchell (MNZM)
Cultural safety for the LGBTQ community
Associate Professor Cindy Towns
Health professional students’ education, confidence and learning needs related to healthcare provision for LGBTQIA+ patients
Jamie Salemink-Waldren
Trans-ing the curriculum: transgender healthcare as a case study on medical education
Cassie Withey-Rila
Developing a trans and non-binary inclusive undergraduate medical education curriculum framework
Dr Sara Filoche
Read more about our speakers here.
If you'd like to join us, please register here.