Lifeline Broken Hill
Country to Coast
Lifeline Broken Hill
Country to Coast
How's Ya Mate? Find out more about our mental health and well-being program
Our People
Board of Directors
Samantha Maiden, Chair
Samantha (Sam) Maiden was a Certified Financial Planner for over 20 years and ran her own financial planning firm for 10 of these.
In 2018, Sam retired from this field and is now working full time on the family organic sheep farm while developing an accommodation and tourism business to expand the enterprise.
Sam loves a challenge and adapts well to change to achieve her desired outcomes.
When the opportunity to join the Regional Community Care Limited board was presented, Sam was excited to learn something new and identify areas within the organisation that she could help progress and achieve growth.
When the opportunity to join the Regional Community Care Limited board was presented, Sam was excited to learn something new and identify areas within the organisation that she could help progress and achieve growth.​
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​​​​Sam was elected to the Chairs role in February 2022 and has since overseen a period of significant change and transition in the organisation. Sam is a current Committee member of the Governance Committee and was re-elected unopposed to the role of Chair in December 2024.
Sam was appointed as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW In October 2025 until Ms Deborah Heithersay was appointed as the CEO in mid December.
Her hobby is her family, and so ‘down time’ is usually spent outdoors with her husband and 3 children. Sam holds a Diploma of Financial Planning.
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​Community and family are my passion,
and I am motivated by putting something
back into the community that supported
my professional career.
Natalie Simmons, Deputy Chair
Natalie joined the board of Regional Community Care Limited Board in October 2022. She has quickly proven instrumental in strategic thinking and decision making with her sharp mind, sound knowledge and leadership skills.
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Natalie holds a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting) from Flinders University and has completed the AICD Directors Course.
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Natalie’s career achievements and experience in executive roles, across multiple industries, over three decades have been an asset to her role as a director.
She is the CEO of the Australian Chiropractic College, an independent member of the Adelaide Hills Council Audit and Risk Committee, a member of the Aspire Higher Education Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Trident Institute Australia Audit and Risk Committee.
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Natalie was elected as the current Deputy Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee for the organisation at the Annual General Meeting in November 2023.
Natalie was born and raised in Broken Hill and has continuing strong ties to the community.
​​​​​​​She has valued the service and support that Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW has provided to the community across a very long period of time.
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Natalie is passionate about contributing to the organisation to support the Lifeline team to deliver services and contribute to the prevention of suicide.
Married with two children Natalie resides in South Australia.
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Lifeline Regional SA and Far West NSW
provides pivotal support to individuals
and communities and I am grateful to be
able to make a contribution to this work.
Caitlin Sankey, Company Secretary
Caitlin lives and works in Broken Hill , where she practices as a solicitor in her own firm and is deeply connected to the Far West NSW community.
Working in a regional setting has shaped her strong commitment to ensuring people outside metropolitan areas have access to meaningful, timely and practical support
She joined the Board of Regional Community Care Limited in November 2022 bringing with her a life and work experience that is highly valued to the organisation.
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At the Annual General Meeting in November 2023 Caitlin was elected to take up a vital role as a current committee member of the Audit Committee.
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With her skills and expertise Caitlin has a strong desire to contribute and give back not only to the communities in Far West NSW but also to those within the broader Lifeline footprint across regional South Australia.​
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​Caitlin is committed to supporting the cause of suicide prevention and ensuring accessibility for mental health services, training programs and raising awareness particularly in our regional towns. Accessibility, training and awareness in these areas can help to provide people with the tools and support required to work towards an ‘Australia free of suicide.’
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Caitlin has a Bachelor of Commerce (Major in International Business), Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.​​
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​Access to support should not be
determined by your postcode.
Simon Millcock, Director
Simon has 24 years experience in the field of Regional Development whist being an active member of Economic Development Australia (EDA) including as a National Director.
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He has worked across South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands and on Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean.
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Simon has developed a network of contacts across the globe including Australia, Iceland, USA, Mexico, Cambodia and China through both his Economic Development background and an International Chef Exchange Program.
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In recent years Simon has been actively advocating for equity across Regional South Australia in the areas of health, mental health, suicide prevention, volunteerism, education, community and social support services.
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This includes actively campaigning for the centralised model regarding mental health services within his region and in collaboration with Lifeline.
Simon was elected to the Board of Directors in August 2024 and soon after took on the role of Chair of the Governance Committee.
His broad experience and knowledge of not for profits and governance is valued and key to maintaining strong governance and accountability across all levels of the organisation.​
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Not all who wander are lost...​
from J.R.R. Tolkien's poem
"All that is gold does not glitter"
in The Fellowship of the Ring
Dr Ann Alder, Director
Dr Ann Bronwen Alder brings more than three decades of clinical, community health and leadership experience to her work, grounded in a comprehensive academic background spanning nursing, midwifery, women’s health, public health and education.
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Ann began her career with nursing and midwifery qualifications from the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital, later completing a Bachelor of Nursing and an Associate Diploma of Welfare Studies at Monash Gippsland.
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Committed to improving outcomes for women, families and regional communities, she undertook further postgraduate study, earning a Graduate Diploma in Women’s Health and a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne.
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She went on to complete a Doctor of Education at Victoria University, focusing on community wellbeing and the development of responsive health systems.
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Across her career, Ann has championed evidence-based approaches to wellbeing, strengthened service systems and supported vulnerable communities through roles that span clinical practice, policy, education and governance. Her previous positions include State Manager of the Beyond Blue National Postnatal Depression Program and participation in the Lifeline Connect Clare Steering Group.
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Ann was reappointed to the Board of Directors of Regional Community Care Limited in February 2023, reflecting the Board’s strong regard for her expertise, leadership and deep commitment to community wellbeing.
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She is also in her second term as an elected member of the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, where she is a strong advocate for mental health programs and local service access. In addition, she contributes to key regional and national bodies, including the Health Advisory Council, the Dental Council of Australia and the Dietetics Council Australia Board, bringing a valued regulatory perspective and consumer-focused lens.​​​​​
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Dr Helen Macdonald, Director
Helen Macdonald holds a PHD in Philosophy, (Applied Ethics).
Helen spent a number of years as a university academic, teaching philosophy and applied ethics before moving to the private sector.
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Initially she worked for the Australian gold mining company, Normandy Mining, on community and indigenous relations issues and policy development.
After Normandy merged with the Newmont Corporation and Franco Nevada in 2002 Helen was appointed to the position of General Manager for Community Relations and Communications for the Australian region.
In January 2003 she transferred to Newmont’s corporate office in Denver, Colorado USA to take up the position of Director, Community Relations and Social Development.
In this position she was responsible for developing policy, representing the company on a range of voluntary initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact, International Council for Mining and Metals, Global Reporting Initiative and the Voluntary Initiative for Security and Human Rights.
In September 2008 she was appointed General Manager, Environment & Social Responsibility for a 1 Billion USD new gold mine development project in Ghana where she was responsible for the project permitting, social and environmental baseline studies and impact assessments, negotiating and compensating over 1700 subsistence farmers, developing livelihood replacement and population influx management programs.
After a four year stint as General Manager, Environment & Social Responsibility on a mining project in Ghana she started working on a new project in Peru. After moving back to Australia in late 2011 she has worked in local government as the CEO of the Naracoorte Lucindale District Council the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council until September 2024.
Since moving back to Australia Helen has served on a number of boards including EPA SA, SA Stormwater Management Authority, Regional Development Australia Yorke Mid North, Regional Galleries of SA.
Helen is a highly respected, proactive and collaborative director on the Board and Audit committee of Regional Community Care Limited.
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Rebekah Jarvis, Director
Rebekah Jarvis is an experienced health professional with more than two decades working across community, palliative and Aboriginal health, with a strong focus on mental health, trauma-informed practice, holistic emotional and psychological wellbeing and delivery of culturally sensitive care.
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A registered nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist, she has built her career supporting individuals, families and communities through complex physical, emotional and social challenges, particularly in regional and remote settings.
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Rebekah has lived and worked in Broken Hill for most of her life, developing deep ties to the community.
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Rebekah is a proud mum of four sons and has been connected through their school and sporting journeys over the past and present years.
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Her early work in aged care and community services provided a foundation in person-centred care and advocacy, which she expanded during more than ten years with the Far West Local Health District, including specialist roles for 15 years with the community palliative care team.
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Her palliative care work strengthened her expertise in grief, counselling, mental health deterioration and family support earning here recognition including the Alberto Albani Healing Narrative Award.
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Rebekah currently serves as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation, working across youth health, sexual health and mental health. She brings strong leadership experience through committee roles and multidisciplinary coordination.
Holding postgraduate qualifications in Applied Mental Health Studies (Child and Youth) and Palliative Care, Rebekah has also completed extensive training in trauma-informed care, youth mental health first aid, sexual assault response, child protection and culturally informed care practice.
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As well as her professional experience Rebekah is a strong advocate for suicide awareness and prevention through her own personal lived experience.
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Rebekah brings a voice for others with a hope to make a difference.
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Rebekah’s leadership is grounded in compassion, cultural safety and a deep commitment to strengthening mental health and wellbeing across communities. She is a highly valued member of the Board of Directors, Regional Community Care Limited.
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