The Pinnacle Foundation is Australia’s LGBTIQ+ education charity who provide educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQ+ Australians to help them realise their full potential.
One such scholar is Caiti (she/they), a final year Juris Doctor student at the University of Melbourne.
Caiti was fortunate enough to discover The Pinnacle Foundation during their law degree, and they received The Yarranabbe Foundation Scholarship last year. This year, they have been able to join The Pinnacle Foundations Victorian Committee and are the Scholar Liason, facilitating support, socialisation and events for Victorian scholars.
How has the Pinnacle Foundation supported you in your journey?
In 2021, while serving as a director for the LGBTIQA+ portfolio of the law student society, I learned of The Pinnacle Foundation.
I was really hesitant to apply. I questioned my eligibility and doubted whether my experience as a queer person was “worthy” of this program. However, with the encouragement of my peers, I submitted my application, underwent the interview process, and was overjoyed to be awarded the scholarship.
The Pinnacle Foundation has been a transformative part of my life, offering me a strong sense of belonging and a nurturing community.
The mentorship program, a key aspect of the scholarship, paired me with a senior partner at a law firm, whose guidance and inspiration has been invaluable to my personal and professional growth.
Additionally, the financial support provided by the scholarship has allowed me to focus on my academic pursuits and maintain my wellbeing without financial strain.
This year I’ve served as a Scholar Liaison on the Victorian Committee of The Pinnacle Foundation, a role which has allowed me to give back to the community that gave me so much. I’ve coordinated catch ups for scholars, fostering a sense of community and a platform for shared experiences. Furthermore, I’ve become the first point of contact for over 27 students in Victoria who are part of the Pinnacle scholarship program. This responsibility has been immensely rewarding.
Serving as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, The Pinnacle Foundation has empowered my future, opening up so many opportunities for me and pushing me to achieve my full potential.
What does Pride month mean to you?
Pride Month is a crucial period for visibility and advocacy, celebrating our community’s diversity and reflecting on our progress. However, it’s more than that; it’s an opportunity to examine our organisations and communities, questioning how we can further advance equality and inclusion for LGBTIQA+ people.
I struggled to find safe and welcoming spaces where I felt I could be my true self. It wasn’t until I ventured into queer spaces that I saw reflections of myself, realising there was a pathway to live authentically, embodying the best, fully realised version of myself. Representation is critical, but allyship from organisations and individuals is also vital. Queer voices need to be amplified.
What can the ally community do to support the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride month?
Pride Month offers a distinct opportunity for everyone to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s a chance to illuminate the ongoing struggles and challenges they encounter. While it may motivate corporations to adopt LGBTIQA+ branding as a form of performative activism, its true purpose should prompt organizations to re-evaluate their diversity and inclusion practices, examining how they can become better allies. It’s this introspection that holds the potential for substantial change.
Being visible as an ally is crucial; it signals that you provide a safe space for people in your community, but it must be done from a position of love. Being an ally today entails more than expressing support; it requires actively combating bigotry and hatred and opposing the vocal minority that renders spaces unsafe. It’s distressing to witness the setbacks the LGBTIQA+ community has faced over the past year, including events cancelled due to threats of violence. It’s not enough to empathize privately; you need to voice your concern, make your stance heard, uplift queer voices addressing these issues, and do your part in ensuring safe spaces for sharing their stories.
As an ally, it’s also helpful to share resources and organizations to ensure they reach an LGBTIQA+ audience. For instance, I only discovered The Pinnacle Foundation in the sixth year of my higher education journey, arguably far too late. It only took one person to inform me about it, leading to life-changing effects. If you share such resources with those close to you, you never know who you might reach or how much they might need it. Get involved in any way you can.
How are you planning to celebrate Pride this year?
This year, I’m celebrating Pride in a somewhat introverted manner. My focus is primarily on the people closest to me and the scholars with whom I interact as their liaison, ensuring they feel empowered to express their authentic selves. I’m committed to fostering an environment where they can participate in events, be open, proud, and feel supported.
My celebration involves strengthening relationships with friends, imparting knowledge where possible, and attending events and functions hosted by or benefiting the queer community. I feel the best way for me to celebrate Pride Month this year is to be completely authentically and openly me – and to share that with people I love.
