Finding a workplace where you can be your whole self shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a given. The Queer Career Expo, taking place on 12–13 June 2026 at Ashfield Civic Centre, is on a mission to make that a reality, connecting LGBTQIA+ job seekers with employers who are genuinely committed to inclusion.
We caught up with event organiser Roxy Kitts (who’s also a vocational specialist at headspace Ashfield) to find out more about the expo, why it matters, and what inclusive workplaces really look like in practice.
What is the Queer Career Expo?
The Queer Career Expo is Australia’s first large-scale LGBTQIA+ careers expo. While there have been smaller events before, this one brings together 60 different employers across each day. They’re all inclusive employers who have made a genuine commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community
Why is an event like this so important?
It’s so important for businesses here to stand up loudly and proudly for the people who are part of their organisation.
We want businesses to reclaim the diversity, equity, and inclusion space, and many are already doing it really well. The gap is that a lot of these inclusion initiatives are well known within workplaces and HR circles, but the average person on the street doesn’t know they exist. The expo helps bridge that gap between applicants and initiatives, so all of the wonderful work organisations have been doing can actually be seen and appreciated.
Who is the expo for?
It’s for everyone. There’s no age limit, and roles on offer range from entry level through to career changers looking to move into a more inclusive workplace. I also want to stress that an inclusive workplace benefits everyone, not just the queer community. When people are comfortable being themselves, and when they know their colleagues are treated well too, productivity and retention climb. Pride in Diversity has some wonderful statistics that show just how directly those outcomes are linked to how comfortable people feel at work.
What does it mean for young people to have events like this?
I’m out as a queer, non-binary person, and I’ve seen firsthand how much it means to young people when someone supporting them has lived experience of what they’re going through. I’ve supported a lot of young people who have been misgendered at work, or who haven’t felt comfortable being out in their workplace.
What’s striking is that more young people today are actually less likely to be out at work than previous generations, and they’re not feeling safe or comfortable. That adds to isolation, because you spend such a huge percentage of your life at work, and if you’re hiding a part of yourself every day, that takes a real toll.
How can workplaces do better?
One of our partners is Pride in Diversity, whose entire business model is focused on helping workplaces improve in this space. They offer pride training, they help design inclusion policies and have account managers who provide ongoing inclusivity support, including around things like leave policies. They’re a wonderful partner, and they’re not the only organisation doing this work.
The thing I’d say though is that true inclusion isn’t a box you tick. You can complete a pride training module and feel like you’ve done your part, but if your company culture doesn’t genuinely support inclusion, it can feel like lip service. Real inclusion is about how the employee actually feels.
For me, feeling included at headspace has meant that when I’ve wanted to say something, do something, or achieve something for the queer community, it’s been celebrated and listened to. The voice of the queer community is recognised. Things like marking IDAHOBIT, or pursuing Rainbow Tick accreditation, show that an organisation is making a sustained effort, and that inclusivity is embedded in the system, not just dependent on one great manager.
Finally, I’d say that if you’re an inclusive employer genuinely trying to make a difference, the group you especially need to show up for right now is the transgender community. They are facing significant discrimination, and the T in LGBTQIA+ is an essential part of our community that must not be forgotten.
The Queer Career Expo is open to all, June 12-13, 2026 at Ashfield Civic Centre (260 Liverpool Road)