What an incredible day at the Be Deadly Jobs Expo 2026 on Friday 22 May! We are so proud to have hosted our annual job search event and to see the positive impact it continues to make right across our community.
The Be Deadly Job Expo is a wonderful celebration of the merger between First Nations culture and employment opportunities. This year was our biggest and most vibrant yet, with exhibitors spread over two entire floors of the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury, Naarm.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this event took place: the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
A bustling day of connection
Held on Friday 22 May 2026, the expo was open to First Nations people, members of the local community, and jobseekers from all backgrounds. It provided a fantastic opportunity for people to explore real job opportunities, training options, and meaningful career pathways. We were joined by over 50 employers and support services, and nearly 500 job seekers.
The Opendoor team was also part of the celebration. We had stalls showcasing our NDIS team, Training team, Transition to Work team, Wellbeing Support team, and Cleanable – our social enterprise. A big hello and thanks to everyone who came to see us!
This year’s Be Deadly Jobs Expo was organised by Mark, our Indigenous Employment Coordinator, along with a dedicated team of people from Opendoor who worked hard to make the day a success. Mark opened this year’s event and welcomed attendees with interesting insights and poignant personal stories. He was joined on stage by Opendoor CEO Graham Dangerfield, and Opendoor Youth Coach Rory.
Both Mark and Graham respectfully acknowledged the significance of the event taking place in the lead up to Reconciliation Week, recognising the importance of reflection, truth telling, and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, strength, and community leadership.
Culture, music and celebration
Be Deadly is about so much more than just careers, training, and networking. It is a true acknowledgement and celebration of culture and community.
This year’s event commenced with a powerful smoking ceremony and an insightful Welcome to Country by Aunty Zeta. Throughout the day, the crowds were treated to beautiful dance moves and music by Brent Watkins, as well as a brilliantly energetic performance by Mitch Tambo, which even sparked a massive conga line through the venue!
In between the music, we paused to hear a few words from the Opendoor team and listen to moving personal stories shared by members of our community.
Of course, no community event is complete without great food. Attendees were treated to a range of fresh food and snacks, including delicious paella served by Mullum Mullum and drinks provided by Genu Training. A special thanks go to NGWALA who attended Be Deadly with their coffee van, and for their ongoing support over the past 3 years.
The energy in the building was absolutely buzzing! It was wonderful to see connections being made, important conversations taking place, and many smiles and laughs throughout the day.
Thank you for making it happen
We want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who attended, from the job seekers taking the next step in their careers to the employers looking to create inclusive workplaces.
We also want to share our deepest gratitude with the team at Workforce Australia North Eastern Melbourne for their invaluable partnership. We could not have done this without you.
Thank you for bringing your energy, your stories, and your smiles.
Check out our event gallery!
