Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant—I love seeing people achieve goals they never thought were possible. Whether it’s gaining confidence, finding employment, learning a new skill, increasing independence or simply feeling connected within their community, those moments are what make this work so rewarding.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting people from all walks of life. Every person I’ve worked alongside has shown incredible strength, resilience and determination. Their stories have inspired me just as much as I hope I’ve supported them.

Like many people, I once took simple everyday tasks for granted—driving a car, hearing a conversation, walking independently, finding employment or completing personal care without assistance. Working in the disability sector, and through my own family’s experiences, has completely changed that perspective.

In 2019, our daughter was born with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV). She spent time in intensive care as a newborn while receiving treatment, and over the following years we experienced the challenges that came with progressive hearing loss.

As a family, we learnt Auslan together so we could communicate effectively and ensure she always felt included. In 2022, after careful consideration, we made the significant decision for her to undergo bilateral cochlear implant surgery. It was a journey filled with difficult decisions, uncertainty and hope, but one that gave us a deeper understanding of the challenges many families face when navigating disability, health services and advocacy.

Our family’s journey continued when my beautiful niece was born with a rare chromosomal condition, resulting in developmental delays affecting her mobility, speech and overall development. Watching both children grow has reinforced that every milestone—no matter how small it may seem to others—is something worth celebrating.

Alongside these experiences, mental health has also shaped my life. I have experienced the devastating loss of both my grandfather and, later, my father to suicide after their own struggles with mental illness. Those losses have given me a profound appreciation of the importance of compassion, connection, early support and simply being present for people during difficult times.

These experiences don’t define who I am—but they have shaped the way I support others.

After spending many years working within large organisations across employment services, youth services, residential care and disability support, I realised I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to create a service where participants are never treated as a number, where genuine relationships come first, and where supports are tailored to the individual—not the system.

That vision became Rise Gippsland Support Services.

Today, Rise is built on the values of respect, compassion, honesty, dignity and choice.

My goal is to provide supports that empower people to build confidence, develop independence, achieve their goals and live the life they choose.

For me, this isn’t just a business.

It’s a commitment to standing beside people, believing in their potential, and helping them rise.