All states and territories have equal opportunity laws - not only to protect GLBTI employees but also those who are perceived to be.

Yet 59% of Australian GLBTI employees have experienced some form of workplace discrimination or harassment. Similarly, there continue to be incidences of homo/bi/trans-phobic violence in the wider Australian community.

The 2001 UWA 'Rainbow Report', found that 35.2 per cent of respondents did not say anything when others made derogatory remarks about gay people and 10 per cent knew someone who had damaged the property of a gay person. 

The ALLY Program was therefore implemented to promote awareness and visibility around sexual diversity, making the UWA community safer and more affirming for GLBTI staff and students. ALLY acts as a conduit of cultural change, facilitating UWA's commitment to leadership in this area.

The 2009 Evaluation of the ALLY program had confirmed that more than 200 ALLIES have acted as ‘champions’ to promote dialogue and increase awareness and sensitivity around issues of sexual diversity across the campus and community.