Helping those living with mental health issues navigate the stepping stones of life

Melanie, you’ve been at Stepping Stone since 1996, and a director since 1998. That is a long time to devote to an organisation. What makes you so devoted to the work?

It’s the people, always. Every day I get to see individuals rediscover their confidence, reconnect with their community, and start to believe in themselves again – and that never gets old. There’s something incredibly powerful about being part of a place that doesn’t define people by their illness, but by their strengths and potential. That’s what’s kept me here all these years.

The results of [a] 2023 evaluation were also incredibly rewarding and really renewed my sense of purpose. Knowing we can reduce hospitalisation for adults living with mental health challenges by around 50 per cent is such a powerful reminder that this work isn’t just meaningful, it genuinely changes lives at scale.

What do you personally do within the organisation?

As CEO since 2017, my role is a mix of leadership, advocacy, and making sure the heart of what we do stays true. I work closely with our clubhouses to shape the direction of the organisation, help build purposeful partnerships to sustain our impact, and ensure we’re creating opportunities for people to thrive – whether that’s through employment, education, or through social connection.

What is the clubhouse model and why is it effective?

The clubhouse model is really about something quite simple but often overlooked – belonging. It provides services, supports and training but what it creates are spaces where people living with mental ill-health can come together, contribute in meaningful ways, build skills, and reconnect with a sense of purpose, all in a supportive, side-by-side environment.

What makes it so powerful is that it’s not clinical – it’s human. People aren’t seen as patients; they’re members, colleagues, and valued contributors. They’re relied on, and that changes everything.

We see every day how this approach builds confidence, capability and genuine social connection in a way traditional services often struggle to achieve. And it’s not just anecdotal – our independent evaluation backs this up, showing huge reductions in hospitalisation rates, and significant improvements in wellbeing and social inclusion, along with real progress toward employment, including people moving into and sustaining jobs.

We’re also an accredited member of Clubhouse International, meaning we’re connected to a global network of Clubhouses all working toward the same goal – supporting recovery, dignity and opportunity for people living with mental health challenges.

How is it different from other mental health support networks or organisations?

What makes us different is that we don’t focus on what’s “wrong” with someone – we focus on what’s possible. Members are involved in running the clubhouse, making decisions, and supporting one another. That peer-to-peer support and shared ownership creates a real sense of purpose and community that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Our members’ lived experience drives the design, operation and evaluation of our clubhouses.

Stepping Stone’s literature talks a lot about “recovery”, as well as “connect” and “thrive”. Why is “recover” such an important word for you, in mental health?

“Recovery” means hope. It’s about moving forward, not just managing symptoms. For us, recovery is building a better life – reconnecting with others, finding purpose, and feeling like you belong again. It’s a deeply personal journey, but one that becomes so much more achievable when you’re not doing it alone.

What is a moment in time that made you, personally, pause and think: I’m glad I do what I do?

There are so many, but it’s often the quiet moments that stay with me. Seeing someone who once struggled to leave the house now leading a project, helping others, or talking about future goals – those moments are incredibly special, and really remind me why this work matters. One moment that stands out for me was during a visit to a clubhouse in China. This clubhouse had participated in training at Stepping Stone and went on to establish the first clubhouse in mainland China. During my visit, one of their members thanked me for contributing to the development of the clubhouse and shared how unhappy they had been before becoming part of that community. Being able to make a meaningful difference – not only for our members locally, but also internationally – is incredibly rewarding.

It feels like the world is getting more difficult and mental health challenges are increasing. Do you ever feel like the job is too hard?

There are definitely challenging days – the need is growing, and the system doesn’t always keep up. But then you look around the clubhouse and see the resilience, humour and support that exists here, and it gives you energy again. We’re not trying to solve everything – we’re creating a place where people can move forward, together.

How do you personally release stress, let off steam, look after your personal mental health?

Stepping Stone Clubhouse has great healthy active lifestyle programs. When I’m feeling a bit stressed, I’ll join the lunch time walk, pickle ball or swim. This is a great way to connect with members and also do some exercise.

The Brisbane Stepping Stone Clubhouse has been running for three decades. Two years ago, you opened a new one, in North Brisbane. And now you have funding for a third. Why the sudden growth?

The demand has always been there, but awareness is growing – people are recognising that community-based, recovery-focused support really works. And it’s an economically sensible decision to support mental wellness. Our clubhouses halve hospitalisation rates and generate improvements across employment outcomes, quality of life and even financial status; the economic case is an easy one to make and I think government understands that. Our expansion is fiscally responsible and about responding to that need and making sure more people have access to this kind of support.

This new clubhouse is in Ipswich. Why there?

Ipswich is a community with significant need and few options for psychosocial support. We see an opportunity to bring something genuinely different – a welcoming, inclusive space where people can reconnect and rebuild. It felt like the right place at the right time – and thanks to Queensland Health’s funding, the new clubhouse has been made possible.

Do you have further plans for expansion?

We believe every town, city and region needs a clubhouse. We’re always thinking about how we can reach more people, but in a way that stays true to our model. Growth for us isn’t just about opening more clubhouses – it’s about deepening impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring every clubhouse feels like a genuine community.

We know the demand right now far outweighs access to clubhouses, but we can also feel a shift happening. There’s a growing recognition that psychosocial recovery works – and it should be available to more Australians.

Globally, this model is well established. In the UK and the US, what we do is often described as social prescribing, and it’s a significant part of the mental health landscape. Clubhouse International has more than 370 clubhouses worldwide in 32 countries – and yet here in Australia, we have just two accredited clubhouses.

So yes, we’re not where we want to be – but that also means there’s an incredible opportunity ahead of us. We’re really hopeful that over the coming years, we’ll see that gap narrow and more communities benefit from what we know works so well.

You’ve been with the organisation for 30 years. What are your personal goals from here?

I’d love to see this model continue to grow and be recognised for what it is: a powerful, evidence-based approach to mental health recovery. Personally, it’s about continuing to support our clubhouses, and making sure we keep that sense of purpose and connection at the centre of everything we do. I’m also passionate about strengthening our impact at a broader level – contributing to mental health policy and reform, and ensuring that lived experience and community-based models like ours are recognised and embedded within the wider system of care.