Rachelle Patterson

Rachelle is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) responsible for the organisation’s strategic leadership, vision and effective operation.

Rachelle has been working for Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland since 2017 and prior to her appointment as CEO was the Chief Operating Officer of Human & Community Services.  Rachelle has extensive experience working in the NGO and Government sectors including areas of domestic violence, mental health, out-of-home care, suicide prevention, homelessness, youth, Indigenous affairs, research, policing and criminology. Rachelle has held several executive and leadership roles across a number of locations in Australia including remote communities, regional and inner-city locations.  Rachelle has also held Board Director Roles with the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) and the Kimberley Community Legal Service (KCLS).

Rachelle is strongly committed to leading staff working with people and supporting staff to engage and empower individuals to build resilient communities.  She believes that this can only be achieved if staff individually live and work in accordance with our values, thereby leading by example.