Breaking Barriers: How a Remote Jobs Expo is Transforming Lives in Australia's Outback

After months of searching, Jason Wandji, 47, has just landed a job thanks to a unique career expo held in the remote Northern Territory's tropical north. The Yolngu man from Milingimbi had been searching for work since moving to West Arnhem Land's largest regional hub, Maningrida, a year ago in search of a better lifestyle.

But when he started applying for jobs nearby, he was told he would instead need to participate in the "work-for-the-dole" Community Development Program (CDP) first, to build his skills. "I struggled a bit — I asked when I was applying around looking for a job, [and] they told me they were all not available until I went to the CDP," he said.

Jason Wandji says he struggled to find a job before attending the careers expo.

But when Mr Wandji renewed his job search at a careers expo held by the Bawinanga Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (BHAC) last week, it took him just three days to land a job. "I was excited, I just walked around looking at what is a good job for me," he said. "I went there, had a look and was applying for three jobs. Another one from Intract called me back."

Mr Wandji financially supports a number of family members. He said the job offer had made him proud, and he was now thinking about further training opportunities, such as undertaking training at the NT's Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.

Taking locals from 'bush mechanic' to the real deal

Under the Closing the Gap agreement, the federal government has promised to raise the employment rate of First Nations people to 62 per cent by 2031. A 2021 Productivity Commission report showed the NT was the only jurisdiction that had gone backwards on progress towards that target.

The NT is the only state or territory in Australia where the employment rate of First Nations people is declining.

The latest census found 70 per cent of Maningrida's population was not even in the labour force, and of those who were, 46 per cent were unemployed. BHAC chief executive Kira Bourke said that was not for a lack of will.

"There's people that are willing and able, but there can be a lot of barriers and there needs to be a lot of support in place — and that doesn't just look like traditional training and development," she said.

Ms Bourke said those barriers include cultural commitments and the competing priorities of managing families, healthcare and access to services in a remote area. But she said offering flexible work options could help.

"It means helping someone to get to an appointment because someone lives across town or out of town, or encouraging someone to have the confidence to go from being able to fix things as a 'bush mechanic' to shadowing someone on the job," she said.

People living in remote communities often face barriers when trying to find work.

The Maningrida jobs expo aimed to bring all local employers together under the tin roof of the community basketball court, to link up jobseekers with the full range of local organisations to discuss work options.

"We live isolated enough — there's no reason to isolate ourselves more by not working together," Ms Bourke said.

Remote jobs program funding 650 new roles

The expo was held ahead of the launch of 50 new jobs in Maningrida, which are being funded under the new Remote Jobs Economic Development Program from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

The NIAA said 650 jobs had been approved under the program so far for remote communities across Australia, with 300 more continuing from a previous trial. It said 140 of those jobs were in the Arnhem region, "including jobs in construction, retail, IT support, administration, homelands maintenance, transport and cultural roles".

The promised 650 jobs include roles in a range of industries.

The remote jobs program is part of an overhaul of the CDP system, through which employers will be funded to create real jobs within their organisations rather than work-for-the-dole activities. Communities have long criticised the CDP and called for more meaningful work, training and better pay.

BHAC has been funded for several positions through the program, which the organisation plans to use to offer job-sharing arrangements for local jobseekers.

"It encourages women back into the workforce, it encourages older people, it encourages people that have cultural commitments, family commitments or other barriers to employment," Ms Bourke said.

She said she envisioned the Remote Aboriginal Employment Service, which will replace the CDP from November, would allow jobseekers such as Mr Wandji to improve their skills to move into the NIAA-funded jobs.

"There will be a large activities component to that program, and that looks like getting people ready to go into jobs," she said.