Last week Kirinari launched their highly successful Rise Training program – delivered in partnership with Jigsaw Australia – in Orange, expanding opportunities for local people with disability to access comprehensive training, paid work experience, and long-term employment pathways.
Since 2024, Rise Training has transformed lives in Albury, providing participants with real workplace experience, skill development, and the confidence to move into meaningful, paid employment.
The expansion of Kirinari’s Rise Training into Orange follows on from their 2025 merger with LiveBetter, and Kirinari CEO, Diane Lynch, says it will ensure that even more regional people can access this unique approach to training and employment.
“This is an important milestone in our mission to create inclusive and effective employment pathways for regional people,” said Ms Lynch.
“We’ve seen extraordinary outcomes in Albury – people gaining skills, building confidence, and securing award wage‑ employment. We’re thrilled to now offer this opportunity to the Orange community.”
According to 2022 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, only 56% of people with disability who are of working age are employed, compared to 82.3 per cent of people without disability. This is the reality programs like Rise Training are designed to address.
The program is built around a simple belief: the best way to get job-ready‑ is through real work. For Rise participant, Erica Bartlett, the Rise program has provided the opportunity to get computer literate.
“Rise helped me to access and use computers, which is probably my most valuable work skill,” said Ms Bartlett.
“I’m legally blind, and Rise gave me the support I needed. Now I’m managing to complete more complex processes like scanning documents and quality control.”
Today, thanks to the support of Rise, Erica is working full time as an NDIS Plan Manager.
Sitting alongside Rise Training is Rise Business Solutions, which provides high-quality digital and information management services to local organisations, transforming businesses while giving trainees real work opportunities they need.
Albury City Council’s Corporate Information Supervisor, Maryanne Wiffen, says partnering with Rise Business Solutions to support their digitisation and information management needs improved efficiency across the organisation.
“Digitising has freed up physical storage space, allowing us to remove physical files from offsite storage. This means a cost reduction for the organisation,” said Ms Wiffen.
“And the digital records are now easier to access, improving overall efficiency.”
The launch of Rise Training in Orange will create meaningful opportunities for people with disability to build the skills, experience, and confidence they need to thrive in mainstream employment – while also giving local businesses access to professional business solutions. It’s a program that transforms business operations while transforming lives.
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Kirinari officially opened its Hoffmann Road day program centre in Thurgoona on Wednesday 07 October 2026, celebrating the occasion with customers, families, the community, and staff.
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Kirinari Community Services would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the Elders past and present for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia.
Kirinari acknowledges and recognises people from different nationalities, cultures, and identities. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment where individuals feel safe, accepted, and affirmed.
Last week Kirinari launched their highly successful Rise Training program in Orange, expanding opportunities for local people with disability to access comprehensive training, paid work experience, and long-term employment pathways.
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