Patricia Lavater

Patricia Lavater founded young women's rehabilitation provider The Esther Foundation in 2006. The foundation ran a faith-based, holistic recovery program and provided residential accommodation to young women. Ms Lavater served as managing director of the foundation, while her husband Rodney Lavater was employed as administrator.

Patricia Lavater left The Esther Foundation in early 2020. Reportedly, her employment was terminated by the foundation's board following complaints made by former patients in 2019. In 2022, a WA parliamentary inquiry was held into reports of psychological and emotional abuse at the foundation's residences.