Rachel Carling

Rachel brings over 30 years’ experience in the disability sector, complemented by extensive leadership and governance roles as a Board Member, Chief Executive, Director, and Council and Committee Member across a variety of industries and sectors.

Rachel’s career has been shaped by her commitment to advancing disability rights, reflected in her PhD research on the Disability Rights Movement and her 2014 publication, Disability and Social Movements: Learning from Australian Experiences. Her academic contributions include work as a research fellow in the areas of person-centered active support and dementia care for people with intellectual disabilities.

With hands-on operational management experience, including leading a sizeable plan management company in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Rachel combines practical expertise with a strategic perspective. In her current role as Director of Public Policy in education, she continues to drive meaningful change through advocacy, policy development, and community engagement.

Rachel’s extensive experience is invaluable to Gateways in achieving impactful outcomes for the people we serve.