The Darling 2025 Winner Announced
At InterAction's Intersex Awareness Day Online Gala on Sunday 26th October, the highlight of the evening's celebrations was the announcement of The Darling- the award given to ally individuals or organisations who have made a contribution beyond signing the Darlington Statement to progress the health and human rights of people with innate variations of sex characteristics in Australia. And in 2025, the award was presented to two worthy winners- Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis.
There were three finalists for The Darling this year and honourable mentions also go to Western Australian Councillor David Goncalves and Western Australian LGBQTIA+SB organisation, Living Proud.
David Goncalves has been a consistent and long-term ally to the intersex community, using his roles in politics, policy, and local government to advance reform, visibility and compassion. As the Convenor of the Labor Party’s Health Policy Committee, David has actively driven policy change to support bodily autonomy, self-determination, and the end of non-consensual medical interventions on intersex children. His advocacy has helped bring intersex health and rights into mainstream policy discussions and guided evidence-based reform. David has also been a key facilitator and co-author in intersex-led research and storytelling initiatives that directly informed Western Australia’s first All-of-Government LGBTQIA+ Strategy. As a City of Perth Councillor and the first Co-Chair of the City of Perth LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group, David has continued this advocacy at a civic level- raising awareness, promoting education, and embedding inclusive practice within local government. Through his leadership, the City of Perth has become a visible ally for intersex people and a model for other councils across the state. David’s commitment to reform is matched by his compassion and respect for community-led advocacy.
Living Proud has always displayed a tireless commitment, unwavering courage, and dedication to serving LGBTIQA+ communities in Western Australia. They have continued to work closely with InterAction for Health and Human Rights over the last year and have assisted with the unification of Intersex Human Rights Australia and Intersex Peer Support Australia to create InterAction for Health and Human Rights. Strong allies for intersex people, they have also actively supported the launch of the InterLink Resource Hub earlier this year. Living Proud were Finalists in 2024 as well.
In 2025, The Darling was awarded to Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis. At the Australian Medical Association’s National Conference, Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy in advancing intersex rights and ethical medical practice. Dr Drake-Brockman successfully moved a landmark motion for the AMA to recognise innate variations of sex characteristics as natural human diversity, oppose the pathologisation of intersex people, and call for the deferral of all non-urgent medical or surgical interventions without personal and informed consent. The motion was seconded by Dr Jasmine Davis, who is committed to excellence in lifestyle medicine, sexual health and reproductive health. The motion to the AMA National Conference passed with unanimous support, which is a testament to Dr Drake-Brockman’s persuasive leadership, evidence-based advocacy, and the commitment Dr Drake-Brockman and Dr Davis share for human rights in healthcare. This motion has now progressed to the AMA Federal Council, where Dr Drake-Brockman anticipates it will drive significant policy and advocacy work across the organisation, influencing national standards of care and shaping the future of inclusive medical practice in Australia.
Both doctors were thrilled to win The Darling in 2025 with Dr Drake-Brockman saying:
"Receiving the Darling Award reinforces the importance of standing up as allies, particularly when we are in positions of power or privilege. I am delighted that our advocacy is having a positive impact, and committed to following through. As a member of the medical profession, I know that it is when we focus on the needs of the people we care for that we are at our best. This includes recognising our errors and the harms we have caused in the past, and doing better in the future."
We are proud to celebrate Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis for their courage, compassion, integrity and commitment to excellence in medical leadership and allyship and congratulate them warmly for being announced as winners of The Darling in 2025!
Read the first announcement about the Resolution, by Dr Drake-Brockman on LinkedIn
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