Finding a job can feel overwhelming but opportunities often start with a conversation.
At the 2026 Be Deadly Jobs Expo, inclusive conversations were happening all day, bringing together job seekers, community organisations and over 50 employers in a space built on trust, culture, support and connection.
Held on Friday 22 May at the Aboriginal Advancement League, the expo created a welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other job seekers to explore career pathways and training opportunities. Open to participants from all backgrounds, the event helped break down barriers often faced in traditional recruitment processes.
Belgravia Leisure’s presence at the expo reflects its broader commitment through its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), focused on creating meaningful employment opportunities and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
This work is also supported by initiatives like CultureWise, an Australia-first and free online cultural awareness program for the leisure sector, developed with the Belgravia Foundation and being rolled out to over 8,000 Belgravia Leisure team members to help build culturally safe and inclusive workplaces.
Combined, these initiatives have driven a steady increase in employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within Belgravia Leisure, reaching 4% in March 2026 and surpassing the national benchmark.
Damian Gorman, Belgravia Leisure’s Group Manager for Access and Inclusion, said being present in spaces like the expo is essential to building trust and accessible employment pathways.
“Our presence at the expo is part of a broader commitment through our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, focused on creating meaningful employment opportunities and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Showing up in spaces like this is how we turn that commitment into real, on-the-ground action.
“I’m immensely proud of Belgravia Leisure’s efforts. Providing representation from a leisure service management company both reinforces our commitment and helps lead the way for others in the sector to support employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.
Jaye Hansford, MOVE Moonee Valley Community Engagement Coordinator, said the steady flow of conversations reflected genuine interest from people wanting to better understand opportunities within the leisure industry.
“I was kept busy speaking with a wide range of attendees, particularly those interested in employment opportunities at Belgravia Leisure, as well as engaging with organisations supporting employment pathways. The genuine nature of these connections is already evident, with multiple follow-up meetings now underway to collaborate and create employment outcomes,” she said.
The day included a smoking ceremony, Welcome to Country from Aunty Zeta, cultural performances and a Q&A and performance from Mitch Tambo, reinforcing the strong sense of culture and community throughout the day.
Hannah Gentz, WaterMarc Community Engagement Coordinator, attended the expo for the first time and said it was a valuable opportunity to connect with the community and other organisations.
“I enjoyed the smoking ceremony; it was a meaningful way to start a busy day full of great conversations. We’ve already received new employment expressions of interest directly from the expo. I’m looking forward to continuing our work to welcome, support and create employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community at WaterMarc,” Hannah said.
Beyond connecting with job seekers, the day also created valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships with organisations already supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Conversations with Open Door, NGWALA and GOAL highlighted shared priorities and opened the door for future collaboration, from employment pathways through to cultural learning.
Several expressions of interest were submitted across MOVE Moonee Valley, Mill Park Leisure and Thomastown Recreation & Aquatic Centre, with follow-up conversations already underway.
Belgravia Leisure remains committed to fostering inclusive communities through social inclusion and creating accessible pathways for the communities we serve.
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