Join us in Melbourne this November for the WorkAbility Expo! As part of our My Future, My Choice Melbourne Disability Expo you will find employers and support services who can help you on your employment journey.
WorkAbility Expos are funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and designed to help people with disabilities find meaningful employment.
The welcoming atmosphere makes it easy to network, setting you up for success.
Join us at the Melbourne WorkAbility Expo
Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd November 2024
Expo Program
Friday 22nd November
WorkAbility Workshops, WorkAbility Consultation Zone
| Time | Who | Description |
| 9:30am | Ashlee Morton – Accessible Accomodation |
Employing People Living with Disability and Why It’s Good For Business |
| 10:00am | National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) | NDIS Employment Assistance Learn about the employment supports available through the NDIS to help participants build skills for work, find and keep a job. Receive useful information and resources to help participants talk about their work goals, prepare for a planning conversation and connect to a suitable provider. |
| 10:30am | Department of Social Services (DSS) | Job Access (Disability Employment) Join us to find out more about JobAccess; workplace adjustments and other support available to ensure you are able to stay in employment. |
| 11:00am | Jenny Watts-Sampson | Candidate Confidence to Request Adjustments in Recruitment Increasingly, employers recognise that a barrier-free recruitment process is essential to access the entire talent pool. This presentation will help you identify a disability-confident employer, confidently request adjustments during the recruitment process, and guide hiring managers to focus on your skills and experience. |
| 11:30am | Australian Network Disability | Inclusive Internships and Mentoring with Australian Disability Network Learn about Australian Disability Network’s internship and mentoring program’s. This session will cover the structure of each program, eligibility, application process, and the essential support offered, including workplace adjustments and interview coaching. We’ll discuss how these initiatives open pathways to meaningful employment for students with disability and provide practical tools to share this information within your university. By spreading the word, you’ll play a key role in connecting more students with disability to career-enhancing opportunities. |
| 12:00pm | genU Training |
Fundamentals for Employers: Co-designing Inclusive Recruitment Practices for Employers This workshop will be interactive and aims to capture real experiences and input from people with lived experience which will inform the content in the course, ensuring it meets the needs, and is informed by, the voices of people with disability. |
| 1:00pm | Fair Work Ombudsman | Understanding Your Workplace Rights In this presentation, we will explore the vital role of various government agencies in enforcing workplace laws and ensuring that employees receive their minimum entitlements. Additionally, we’ll showcase the free tools and resources available on our website, designed to help both employers and employees navigate these laws effectively. |
| 1:30pm | EdAble | Increasing Employment Opportunities for People with Autism and Other Neurodiversities So, you want to be employed and it’s not so easy to get a job. Ever thought about starting your own business or being a part of a small group of people running a business? Where would you start? Simple! Talk to EdAble. EdAble is a Social Enterprise, with Tax Deductibility (DGR)Status , working to increase employment opportunities for people with neurodiversities. We’re a launch pad for you. You tell us what you love to do and we’ll help you to build a business around that passion. This talk will share how this is possible. |
| 2:00pm | Kathrine Peereboom | Pathways to Possibility: Employment Readiness for People with Disabilities Join us as we explore innovative strategies to empower individuals with disability and unlock their potential in the workforce. This presentation is designed to provide practical tools, resources and insights to help build confidence and job readiness, ensuring that everyone has a path to employment success. Lets break barriers together and create inclusive opportunities for all. |
WorkAbility Consultation Zone available on Friday 22nd November 2024 – 9am-3pm
| Organisation | Category | Booth |
| APM Employment Services | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W09 |
| Better Health Network | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W01 |
| Connecting2Ability (C2A) | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W02 |
| CVGT Employment | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W03 |
| Endeavour Foundation | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W04 |
| Kmart and Target | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W10 |
| NDIA | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W11 |
| Nestle Australia | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W08 |
| uLaunch | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W05 |
| Uniting Employment Services | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W06 |
| Woolworths | WorkAbility Consultation Zone | W07 |
WorkAbility Exhibition Floor available Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd November 2024 – 9am-3pm
| Organisation | Category | Booth |
| 4GR Customised Employment | Standard | 30 |
| Ability Works | Standard | 20 |
| Afford | Standard | 35 |
| AimBig Employment | Standard | 28 |
| APM Employment Services | Gold Sponsor | G4 |
| Are-Able | Standard | 14 |
| Atwork Australia | Standard | 132 |
| Australian Disability Network | Standard | 157 |
| breakthru | Standard | 141 |
| Brite | Standard | 07 |
| Bus Stop Films | Small Business | SB07 |
| Connecting2ability | Standard | 69 |
| CVGT Employment | Standard | 144 |
| Department of Social Services | Standard | 149 |
| Empowering Brighter Futures | Small Business | SB16 |
| Endeavour Foundation | Silver | S8 |
| genU Training | Standard | 145 |
| Marshmallows by Rachel | Community Table | C01 |
| Multicap | Standard | 128 |
| Nadrasca | Standard | 130 |
| Permalink Support Services | Standard | 66 |
| Possability | Standard | 58 |
| Scope Australia | Standard | 154 |
| Special Moments made by Mattie | Community Table | C02 |
| T&H Care/ includia | Small Business | SB04 |
| Tender Loving Care Disability Services – TLC | Platinum sponsor | P1 |
| uLaunch | Standard | 143 |
| Uniting Employment Services | Standard | 10 |
| Victorian Disability Worker Commission | Standard | 134 |
| Villa Maria Catholic Homes | Standard | 139 |
| Wallara Australia | Standard | 147 & 148 |
| Youth Projects | Standard | 101 |
Why Attend?
Testimonials
What to expect at a WorkAbility Expo
At a Workability Expo, you’ll find a variety of activities to support you into meaningful employment. Here’s what you can expect:
- WorkAbility employment zone with mainstream employers
- Dedicated disability employment providers
- Practical workshops
- Support services
- Networking opportunities
- Learn from your peers
- Support for workplace adjustments
- Resources
- Legal rights information
- Funding information
FAQ
The WorkAbility Expo is a dedicated event connecting people with disability and inclusive employers, providing resources, support, and networking opportunities to advance their employment journeys.
WorkAbility Expos are funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and designed to help people with disabilities, including those with high support needs, find meaningful employment.
WorkAbility Expos are also ideal for business who are curious or would like to embrace inclusive hiring, but are not sure where to start.
WorkAbility Expos are run by ImpactInstitute. ImpactInstitute has over 10 years experience developing and running events for people with disability that enable them to control how they want to live their lives today and plan for their future.
The WorkAbility Expo is designed for people with disabilities who are looking for employment or information about supports available to help you people with disability into employment, their families, caregivers.
WorkAbility Expos are also ideal for business who are curious or would like to embrace inclusive hiring, but are not sure where to start.
The event is free to attend, but we recommend registering in advance to secure your spot.
We encourage all attendees to register in advance to ensure a smooth check-in process and to receive updates about the event.
If you don’t have an email address or cannot register prior to the event – just come along on the day and one of our friendly staff will register you in.
A wide range of employers from various industries committed to employing people with disability will be present. This includes mainstream employers, dedicated disability employers, Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs), small business and sole traders.
There will also be a range of support services including disability employment service (DESs), training organisations, disability support providers and government and advocacy organisations.
Yes, our venues are fully accessible with lifts available to ensure easy access for all attendees. We also have a range of other accessible features including:
- Auslan interpreters
- Live captioning
- Dog watering stations
- BindiMaps wayfinding
- Wheelchairs available for rent
You can stay updated by visiting our website regularly and following us on social media. Regular updates are also sent to all registered attendees via email.