Midsumma is a year-round national LGBTQIA+ arts organisation, and the event producer of the annual Midsumma Festival – a State Wide annual queer arts and cultural festival taking place in Melbourne, Australia each January and February. Midsumma is committed to providing a safe working environment for its staff, volunteers, artists and contractors.

The goal of this induction is to:

• Provide an overview to personnel of Midsumma’s occupational health and safety policies and procedures;
• Detail Contractor, Staff, Volunteer and Artist requirements and responsibilities;
• Ensure all personnel understand Midsumma’s Policies & Procedures, and signify their understanding by completing this induction.

The information contained in this induction is applicable for all work carried out on a Midsumma-managed site or venue. All contractors and their staff are required to successfully complete this induction prior to the event.

This induction is only valid during and in the lead up to Midsumma Festival 2026 and Victoria's Pride 2026.

 Values Overview, Duty of Care and Code of Conduct

Midsumma is Australia's premier queer arts and cultural organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences.

Our primary event, Midsumma Festival, expands over 22 days of summer each year with an explosion of queer events that centre around hidden and mainstream queer culture, locally and internationally.
The Midsumma program shares the lived experiences of those voices at the margins, expressions of queer history, and the celebration of new ideas that come to life through world-class art and performance.

• We are a cultural connector and influencer.
• We are the intersection between people, ideas, stories and experiences.
• We are simultaneously a thought-leader and a learning organisation.
• We are active and constantly evolving. Progression and development lie at our core.
• We are a focal point for connections and belonging.
• We are globally relevant and connected.
• We value diversity and embrace difference.

Midsumma Festival strives to comply with all aspects of the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act 2004 & Consolidated Regulations 2007 which specifies the legal requirement and responsibilities in relation to OH&S. This includes any applicable Codes or Practices, Guidance Notes and Australian Standards.

Culture

Midsumma Festival engages with a wide range of communities. You will come across audiences, artists and contractors who have different life experiences to you. It's important to be sensitive and respectful in the way you talk to people.

Some "do's" and "don'ts" of engaging with people with experiences of diverse genders and sexualities:

• Don't assume someone's gender based on their appearance;
• Do ask someone what pronouns they use;
• Pronouns are how we refer to people when we don't use someone's name - such "he, her, they, them, she, her". For example, If you ask "What pronouns do you use?" someone may respond with, "I use he and him pronouns" or " I use they / them pronouns";
• Don't ask probing questions. It's offensive to ask questions about someone's experiences of living as a particular gender or their medical history;
• Don't ask probing questions about someone's sex life or their relationships.
• We want Midsumma Festival to be a safe environment for everyone and that starts with us.

Unacceptable Workplace Behaviours 

Midsumma is committed to providing a workplace free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation. We strive for equality of opportunity for all people.

Midsumma is committed to ensuring all our people work in an environment where everyone is treated with mutual respect.

Workplace Bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards another person or group of people that creates a risk to health and safety.

It is also persistent behaviour that occurs over a period of time which may intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate an individual.

Bullying behaviours include but are not limited to; physical or verbal abuse, yelling or offensive language, intimidation, unjustified criticism or complaints, cyber bullying, spreading rumours and making threats.

Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favours, or any other uninvited or unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, in circumstances in which a reasonable person would have anticipated that the other person would feel humiliated, intimidated or offended.

Discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavourably because of a personal characteristic protected by law.

An example of the “protected” attributes in Victoria according to the Equal Opportunity Act 2004 includes but is not limited to; age, race, gender, disability, marital status, physical features, religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

Workplace violence is any action, incident or behaviour in which a person is assaulted, threatened, harmed or injured in circumstances relating to their work.

Midsumma Festival has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence.
If you feel you are being bullied or harassed, or you feel someone is being bullied and harassed, speak up.

Report any incidents of unacceptable behaviours to Midsumma Festival Management.

Drug & Alcohol Policy

Midsumma has a zero tolerance policy for Contractors, Staff, Volunteers, and Artists in regards to drugs and alcohol.

Personnel are not to enter or remain at the Midsumma Festival 2026 Launch, any 2026 festival events, or Victoria's Pride if affected by drugs or alcohol.

Alcohol is not permitted to be brought on to the work site.

Whilst driving vehicles, operating machinery or electrical equipment, you must have a legal blood alcohol content.

Personnel found to be affected by alcohol or drugs will be asked to leave the premises immediately. 

Smoke and Vape Free Workplace

Smoking and vaping is not permitted in any buildings, structures or within 3 metres of a doorway.
Smoking and vaping is also not permitted in works areas.

Vehicle/Plant Safety

Anyone operating plant or vehicles during the Midsumma Festival event bump-ins/outs must be suitably qualified (and licensed where required) to do so.

This may include a current driver’s licence with the appropriate endorsement for the type of vehicle being driven or certificate of competency.

• If seat belts are provided in a vehicle, they must be worn.
• Passengers must remain seated and wear seat belts at all times.
• Lights must be turned on at night-time and dusk, and warning lights must be used if fitted.
• Speed limits vary as per signage, and these limits must be adhered to at all times.
• Daily inspections or pre-start checklists must be completed.
• Keys must be removed from all unattended vehicles.
• Passengers shall not be carried in the back of open vehicles.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personnel are provided with PPE where required.
Personnel must wear high-visibility vests and appropriate footwear (closed toed shoes) if they are entering work areas.

First Aid Services

First Aid kits are provided in all main locations for bump-in/out.
Refer to event site maps for first aid locations during the hours of any Midsumma Festival event.

Injury or Incident Reporting

Any injuries or incidents that occur on site are to be reported to the Production Manager and/or Site Manager via phone or two-way radio immediately.
The reporter must then complete an Incident Report Form as soon as possible after the incident and return it to the Site Manager.

Hazard Reporting

Any identified hazards must be reported to the Production Manager and/or Site Manager as soon as possible.
If the task or area poses a serious and immediate threat, cease work and make the area safe.

Emergency Management Procedures

For the purpose of this Induction an emergency situation may include but not be limited to:

• fire;
• serious medical incidents;
• suspicious package;
• bomb threat;
• armed robbery;
• armed person;
• severe weather;
• or structural collapse.

In the case of a serious or life-threatening injury, immediately dial ‘000’ for assistance.

Every venue has its own emergency procedures. Please read them on arrival and adhere to them at all times.

For major events, the preferred method of communication is via radio by calling for the Event Operations Centre (“EOC”) or “Event Control”.

EOC emergency phone number – 0484 264 864 – PLEASE ADD THIS NUMBER TO YOUR PHONE CONTACTS

Emergency Notification

Contact EOC via radio, in person or phone and advise the following:

• Precisely where the emergency is;
• The extent and nature of the problem;
• Which entry point is closest to the incident;
• Your contact number;
• Any other relevant information.

If the EOC is unattended during bump-in or bump-out, contact:

Midsumma Head of Production and Operations — Michael Ryan on 0468 966 575

If unable to notify the EOC, DIAL 000

Evacuation

Evacuation Assembly areas have been allocated for all major events.
Remember to follow instructions given by Wardens.

For further details please refer to the Midsumma Festival Emergency Management Plan or for established venues, please follow directions of venue management.

An evacuation will be facilitated by the EOC via the Wardens on the ground at events.

Emergency announcements will be made over the stage speakers and emergency exit gates will be opened.

Content description: this page includes a list of derogatory words people have used to refer to people with disabilities. They have been included in an attempt to clearly communicate the difference between inappropriate and appropriate language. 

Who is this event for? Who feels welcome?

At Midsumma, 35% of our audiences identify as Disabled, d/Deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, or neurodiverse.

Staff and volunteers at our events also identify as Deaf and Disabled.

This section of the induction is about creating an accessible and inclusive culture for audiences/patrons, staff and volunteers.

Midsumma aims to be a leader in access and inclusion. This goal will require something from everybody, and is not down to any one person.

Access is everyone’s responsibility and we thank you for helping us to make this happen.

 

Social Model of Disability: 

We are guided by the Social Model of Disability, which has been “developed by Deaf and Disabled people to point out and fight discrimination. It is there to help Deaf and Disabled people live their lives the way they want to. And it shows the world how to include Deaf and Disabled people based on equality and human rights. 

It recognises that people are disabled by the barriers created by society. A barrier might be physical, like a building only having stairs and no lift. Another barrier might be the way people communicate or behave.  

By using the word ‘disability’ to mean barriers and discrimination, we involve everyone in identifying and removing those barriers and in acting against discrimination.” - Arts Access Victoria.

 

Access from start to finish

An awareness of ‘who is this for?’ and ‘who feels welcome?’ will assist you as you plan and set up for the event, and will avoid the need to retrofit your set up. For example, if a person is accessing the stage via a wheelchair lift and they then have to wait for railings to be cleared, or wait for a path to be cleared so they can get to the microphone, which has not been adjusted to meet their height- this does not work to protect someone’s dignity. But all of these things could be planned for.

Tips on Language and Communication:

When communicating, remember to state your name and your role at Midsumma.

If it appears necessary, ask “Would you like assistance with…?” rather than assuming that help is required.

Speak directly to the person rather than the person with them.

Use a normal tone of voice.

It’s OK to let a person know you are having difficulty understanding them; try asking yes or no questions.

9 times out of 10, flexibility and patience make the difference between an accessible and inaccessible event.

 

Do use ‘person first’ language	Don’t use language of deficit
Person with disability, wheelchair user, person who is blind or has low vision, person who is d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing, person of short stature	Handicapped, person who can’t walk/hear/speak/etc, wheelchair bound, the blind/deaf, deaf and dumb, dwarf or midget, retard, spastic/spaz, crazy, slow, crippled, special, inspiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are communicating with a person who is Deaf and you don’t know Auslan, it is appropriate to offer written communication as an alternative (via a notes app on your phone, or handwritten notes).

If you are calling out an order number to let someone know their food is ready, a person who is Deaf might not realise. Be prepared with a visual communication system, or to leave your point of service to get their attention.

If communicating with a person who is blind, it is appropriate to say things like “I’m holding the EFTPOS machine in front of you.. Oh, it’s a little to the left”, “Would you like me to read the menu to you”, “You are second in the line”, etc.

Never take hold of a blind person’s hands or body and move them to where you want them to be.

Please be aware that some patrons will not be able to access your point of service because it is too high (eg- wheelchair users). Be prepared to conduct point of sale at ground level.

Autism and neurodiverse patrons and staff

Our major events are high sensory environments that may become overwhelming for people with particular sensory needs. If someone seems overwhelmed (this can look like: crying, rocking, lying on the ground, or not speaking), the primary goal is to protect their dignity by supporting them to regulate themselves:

• Create physical space around them
• Do not touch the person
• Do not speak to them or provide any new information
• If you can identify factors in the environment that may have contributed to an individual feeling overwhelmed (eg. heat, noise, crowds) you may be able to offer an alternative to help with self-regulation (eg- placing a bottle of water, or something cold, near the person).

Eventually, the person will regulate their breathing and behaviour and may begin communicating and processing new information.

— 

Sometimes people with visible and invisible disabilities are mistaken for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Please be aware that some signs of drug use- low capacity for balance and coordination, slower pace and non-normative sequencing of speech, and a need for more processing time- might not be indicative of drug or alcohol use.

General Information:

Our Access Coordinator Josh will be available on Major Event days to assist as required. He will be contactable via radio or on 0437 557 109.

Roving Auslan interpreters will be on call during event hours to support communication with Deaf patrons, and at certain times sighted guides and audio describers will be available to assist patrons who are blind or who have low vision, if requested.

Workplace access and reporting for duty

We need to ensure that everyone who works at a Midsumma event arrives and signs in to their relevant shift.

We therefore ask you to:

• Arrive on site at your designated time, and report to your designated area;
• Follow directions given to you by sign in personnel (this may be a stage manager, volunteer coordinator, or site manager);
• Sign into your shift (volunteers, please follow the directions given to you by the Volunteer Coordinator about signing in);
• Please arrive, where possible, dressed performance or shift ready, to avoid unnecessary use of change room;
• Please arrive at your designated time;
• There will be no possibility to store items backstage either pre or post performance times, so only bring items that are necessary for your performance or shift;
• Please only bring items that are essential for you to work;

Backstage areas are restricted to authorised personnel only.

Please select one of the following options below that best describes your role within Midsumma Festival:

• Event Staff: If you are employed by Midsumma Festival Inc on Midsumma events
• Volunteer: if you are volunteering for Midsumma Festival
• Midsumma Board, Midsumma Staff and Summer Work Placements: If you are a Midsumma Festival board or staff member
• Supplier/Stakeholder: If you are a contractor working on Midsumma Carnival, Midsumma Pride March and/or Victoria's Pride (Technical Supplier/Operations Supplier/Security or Stakeholder such as Council etc.)
• Artist: If you are performing at a Midsumma Carnival and/or Midsumma Pride March and/or Victoria's Pride
• Food Vendor: If you are engaged as a food vendor as part of Midsumma Carnival, Midsumma Pride March, Victoria's Pride
• Sponsor Activation or Stall Holder: If you work on Midsumma Carnival, Midsumma Pride March and/or Victoria's Pride as part of an activation by a sponsor, or work on a stall

Incident of Injury Reporting

Any injuries or incidents that occur on site are to be reported to the Stage Manager immediately.

An Incident Report Form must be completed as soon as possible after the incident and returned to the Stage Manager.

Hazard Reporting

Any identified hazards must be reported to the Stage Manager as soon as possible.
If the task or area poses a serious and immediate threat, cease work and make the area safe.

Artist Responsibilities

All artists must:

• Bring and use only electrical equipment (musical instruments, amps etc.) which has a current electrical testing tag attached, as required by the
• Australian New Zealand Standard AS/NZS3760 In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
• Be performance ready and not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or illicit/recreational drugs while on site or while performing
• Not incite bad or dangerous behaviour by the crowd
• Not hand out or throw souvenirs or items from the stage during performances
• Arrive at the designated venue at the designated call time and sign in with the relevant stage manager, to ensure a safe and smooth performance
• It is not possible to:
• Enter the backstage areas prior to your designated call time
• Remain backstage past your designated post performance time
• Drop off any equipment or personal belongings to backstage areas prior to your call time
• Leave any equipment or personal belongings in the backstage areas after your performance