But 14 years later, the children of the Katherine region continue to benefit from her dedication, care and wisdom because she "fell in love" with the town and decided to stay.

Ms Patterson, who has a degree in psychology and is a triple certificate registered nurse, was working for Mission Australia when she arrived in Katherine in 2007 to help rollout changes to the Community Development Program in the area.

She said that role allowed her to travel all across the region including all of its remote communities.

"I got to visit all of the communities which was absolutely awesome," she said.

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"I still have contacts today from back then in that period of time."

Within a few months, Ms Patterson had made the decision to stay.

"I just fell in love with Katherine. With the community itself, [it] was just such a totally different experience than what I'd had before," she said.

"And I just felt at home and at peace here. So, I just kept staying."

Ms Patterson became the chief executive of Binjari Community in 2011 before joining early childhood program Good Beginnings in 2014.

Good Beginnings later merged with Save the Children where Ms Patterson has worked ever since.

"I love it," she said.

"We deliver not only early childhood programs but we deliver family support programs, and we're also involved in the youth space and the Back on Track program which is going really really well."

Although she doesn't have family in Katherine, Ms Patterson said she has found family in the people she works with.

"I'm so thrilled and privileged. The staff that work with me are just the most amazingly gifted people I've ever worked with before, they are truly astounding," she said.

"I've learned so much from each and every one of them that I think has made me a better boss, and a better person.

"I don't know what else you could ask for."

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