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WEAR IT PURPLE DAY 2026 | COLOURS OF COURAGE
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
28th August 2026
Today, AAMHP joins communities across Australia in recognising Wear It Purple Day and its 2026 theme, Colours of Courage.
Wear It Purple Day is an important reminder that inclusion is not simply about visibility or celebration. For LGBTQIA+ young people, feeling safe, respected and able to explore identity without judgement can have a profound influence on mental health, confidence, connection and hope for the future.
AAMHP Chair Shane Warren said the responsibility for creating that safety cannot rest solely with young people themselves.
“We often talk about how courageous LGBTQIA+SB young people are, and of course many of them show extraordinary courage. But we should also be asking why courage is still required simply to be yourself. Young people should not have to be brave just to walk into a classroom, speak honestly with their family, seek support or feel that they belong.” [Shane Warren]
He said mental health practitioners and other helping professionals have an important role in creating environments in which identity can be explored without fear or judgement.
“Belonging is not a soft extra in mental health; it is fundamental. Being listened to, being respected and knowing there are adults and services around you that understand diversity can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.” [Shane Warren]
Wear It Purple Day also provides an opportunity for practitioners, educators, families, organisations and communities to reflect on what meaningful inclusion looks like beyond a single awareness day.
“Wearing purple today matters because it signals solidarity. What matters even more is what happens tomorrow: the conversations we are prepared to have, the assumptions we challenge, the services we make genuinely inclusive and the spaces we create where young people know they do not need to hide parts of themselves to be accepted.” [Shane Warren]
AAMHP celebrates the many Colours of Courage shown by LGBTQIA+ young people across Australia and encourages all helping professionals to continue building communities where every young person has the opportunity to feel safe, connected and valued.
Media Contact:
Shane Warren, Chair
Susan Sandy, Secretary
Philip Armstrong, CEO
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