School pride groups have been proven to be an effective way of fostering an inclusive environment, with Tasmanian researchers interviewing students and teachers about their positive impact.
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Research in this area is limited, making it difficult to determine the exact number of school pride groups. However, Dr Kim Beasy, an Education Scholar and Researcher at the University of Tasmania, told Youth Jam’s Isaac Mulcrone that young people want these groups in their schools.
“What we do know though is young people want pride groups in their schools. In Australia having a pride group isn’t mandatory, if you like, so actually collecting data and knowing how many are in Australia is really tricky,” she told Newsflash listeners.
Less than 50 per cent of LGBTQIA+ young people reported that their school has a pride group, according to Minus18’s 2025 ‘Queer Youth Now’ report.
The benefits are far-reaching, with young people describing the groups as “crucial for their overall wellbeing”.
“Why pride groups are so important is because we know that they provide a space for connection. Young people who are in these spaces feel like they can be themselves, that was something that came through really strong.
“It’s an opportunity to connect with people who are just like you,” Dr Beasy said.
A major challenge facing these groups is their fragility, with a lack of resources and teacher turnover putting them at risk.
Dr Beasy has urged schools to “value pride groups” and ensure teaching staff have the time to run them.
