RIC expansion brings 27 jobs to Orange as farm support grows

Central West farmers struggling through drought and flood recovery will soon have faster access to the financial support they need, as the Orange-based Regional Investment Corporation accelerates its expansion across the region.

The RIC, which has become a crucial lifeline for agricultural communities facing natural disasters and financial stress, is adding 27 staff members to its existing team of 70 — an increase of nearly a third that signals the depth of rural demand for affordable farm lending.

Since launching five years ago with government backing, the corporation has channelled more than $3.15 billion into farmers affected by flooding, drought, pests, biosecurity threats and other business disruptions. Over 2,910 loans have been approved, a figure that underscores how deeply embedded the service has become in the farming psyche across rural New South Wales.

The expansion reflects a fundamental shift in how the RIC operates. Rather than outsourcing parts of its loan management process, the corporation is now building the infrastructure to handle every stage in-house — from initial assessment through loan documentation, disbursement and the full 10-year management period. That means farmers will work directly with RIC staff for the duration of their recovery, a change CEO John Howard says will dramatically improve the customer experience.

"We've handled significant parts of the process before, but we're increasing our capacity," Mr Howard said. "We're bringing in our own contact centre and building our own loan management system. Customers will be dealing with the RIC at every stage."

The jobs being created span customer services, agricultural lending, IT, finance and systems management — many available as remote or hybrid positions anywhere in Australia. Yet the organisation remains anchored to Central West roots: nine in ten existing staff are based regionally, with two-thirds working in Orange and the surrounding area. That regional commitment will continue with the recruitment drive, with the corporation deliberately seeking people with deep ties to farming communities.

"We've found it really important to have a workforce that understands farming," Mr Howard said. "That affinity with the agricultural sector makes a real difference in how we support our customers."

Alli Gregory, the corporation's program delivery executive director, said the expansion will make the RIC more responsive to the communities it serves. "When an application comes in, we do the assessment, we handle all the documentation, we disperse and settle the loan, and then we manage it for the full 10-year term," Ms Gregory said. "Having that capability entirely in-house means faster turnarounds and more direct support for our farmers."

For Orange and the Central West, the expansion represents both immediate economic benefit — 27 new jobs in an Orange-based operation — and a long-term commitment to the region's agricultural recovery. The recruitment is already underway, with opportunities available at the RIC's Orange head office as well as the remote and hybrid roles.

As regional farmers continue navigating the aftermath of recent natural disasters, the expanded RIC presence offers a tangible reminder that support infrastructure is being strengthened, not scaled back. For those weighing whether to apply for recovery funding, the faster processes now rolling out could mean the difference between staying afloat and falling behind.