After months of job hunting, 47-year-old Jason Wandji has finally secured employment, thanks to an unusual career expo held in the remote tropical north of the Northern Territory.
Wandji, a Yolngu man from Milingimbi, relocated to Maningrida — the largest town in West Arnhem Land — in search of a better life about a year ago. However, his initial attempts to find work were met with obstacles, including being told he needed to complete the Community Development Program (CDP) to gain the necessary skills before being considered for a job.
“I struggled — when I asked around about work, they said nothing was available until I did the CDP,” he said.
But everything changed when Wandji attended a careers expo last week hosted by the Bawinanga Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (BHAC). Within just three days, he had a job offer.
“I was excited. I walked around and looked for something that suited me. I applied for three jobs, and one from Intract got back to me,” he said.
Wandji, who supports several family members, said getting the job made him proud and has sparked his interest in further education, possibly through the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.
From ‘bush mechanics’ to skilled trades
Under the Closing the Gap initiative, the federal government aims to lift First Nations employment to 62% by 2031. However, a 2021 Productivity Commission report showed the Northern Territory is the only region where progress toward this goal has actually regressed.
According to the latest census, 70% of Maningrida’s population isn’t in the labour force, and nearly half of those who are, are unemployed.
BHAC CEO Kira Bourke said the issue isn’t a lack of willingness to work but rather numerous systemic barriers.
“There are people who are ready and willing, but they need proper support — and that’s not just standard training,” she said.
These barriers can include cultural obligations, family responsibilities, health care needs, and limited access to services in remote areas. Bourke added that flexible employment options could help overcome some of these challenges.
“That might mean helping someone get to an interview from out of town or giving a ‘bush mechanic’ the confidence to learn alongside a professional on the job,” she said.
A community-focused jobs expo
The Maningrida careers expo brought together local employers at the community basketball court, providing residents with a chance to explore job opportunities in one place.
“We’re already isolated — we don’t need to isolate ourselves further by not working together,” Bourke said.
650 new remote jobs funded
The expo was timed ahead of the rollout of 50 new jobs in Maningrida, funded through the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s (NIAA) Remote Jobs Economic Development Program.
The NIAA has approved 650 roles nationwide so far, with 300 continuing from an earlier pilot program. Of these, 140 jobs are based in the Arnhem region and span sectors such as construction, retail, IT, administration, homelands upkeep, transport, and cultural services.
This new jobs initiative is part of a broader revamp of the CDP system. Unlike the traditional “work-for-the-dole” model, the updated approach funds employers to create real, paid positions.
A new path forward
Indigenous leaders have long pushed for the government to work more closely with communities to overhaul the CDP, calling for more meaningful training, jobs, and fair pay.
BHAC has received funding under the new program and plans to introduce job-sharing roles, making employment more accessible for women, elders, and others with cultural or family obligations.
Bourke said the upcoming Remote Aboriginal Employment Service, launching in November, is expected to help jobseekers like Wandji develop the skills needed for these new roles.
“There’ll be a strong focus on pre-employment activities to prepare people for these jobs,” she said.
