This year has seen the much hoped for and hard worked for opening of the Stepping Stone North Clubhouse – an opportunity for existing and new members to access a Clubhouse closer to home. 

Both Stepping Stone Clubhouse and Stepping Stone North are welcoming and supportive places, where members and staff alike are able to work to support each other and our communities. 

This year has also seen us complete an external evaluation project to measure the impact of our Clubhouse – the findings will be able to be shared with networks to truly show the impact of the Clubhouse for our members. 

From a financial perspective Stepping Stone has seen an overall increase in income of 19.1%, largely due to recurrent grants. This highlights how well regarded Stepping Stone is in the work it does, with the Clubhouse model often referred to as best practice in reviews and reports. 

This year sees the 30th birthday celebrations of Stepping Stone Clubhouse – a wonderful milestone that saw a lot of celebrations of past, present and hopefully future members and supporters! This coming year will see Stepping Stone Clubhouse continue to grow in membership and reputation, and as always this is due to our wonderful staff and members who make the Stepping Stone Clubhouses the wonderful and welcoming places they are. ! 

Jess Watkinson

Stepping Stone Clubhouse this year celebrates its thirty years anniversary – thirty years of resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to mental health. 

Thirty years of supporting, uplifting, and empowering so many on their journey towards healing and hope. 

Did you know that the symbol for thirty years is the pearl and as I reflect on this remarkable milestone, I’m reminded of the journey of a pearl—a journey that mirrors our own in so many ways. 

A pearl begins its life as a grain of sand or a small particle that finds its way into an oyster. It’s an unwelcome intrusion, much like the challenges and struggles many face with mental health. These challenges often start as something small but can grow, sometimes becoming overwhelming, painful, and seemingly insurmountable. 

But the oyster does not reject this grain of sand. Instead, it embraces it, coating it with layers of nacre, transforming over time. This process is neither quick nor easy; it requires patience, persistence, and a natural resilience. 

In this same spirit, Stepping Stone Clubhouse has been that oyster for so many. We have never turned away from the challenges that our members and community face. Instead, we have embraced them, wrapping them with layers of support, understanding, and care.  

Just as it takes time for a pearl to form, so too has it taken time for us to build Stepping Stone Clubhouse. Thirty years ago, we started with a vision—a vision to create pathways to better mental health. A beacon of hope, a sanctuary for those navigating the complexities of mental health. With each passing year, we’ve grown stronger, more resilient, and more determined to shine our light even brighter. 

Today, as we reflect on the past thirty year, we see something beautiful, something rare. We see the countless lives that have walked through our doors, the stories of transformation that have emerged, and the sense of community that we’ve built together. We see the value in every individual, just as a pearl, unique in its beauty, is valued not despite its journey but because of it. We’ve created a place where hope is fostered, where people reclaim their lives, and where the stigma of mental illness is gently but persistently eroded. 

To all of you who have been part of this journey—our members, Management Committee, staff, and supporters—thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your unwavering belief in our mission. It is because of you that this pearl continues to shine, offering hope to all who need it.  

But our journey is not over. The work we do is as vital today as it was 30 years ago. As we celebrate our past, we must also look to the future—continuing our commitment to our community and to the values that have brought us this far. Here’s to the next 30 years. Together, let us continue to create something beautiful, something lasting, as we transform our pearl into a diamond. 

Please enjoy our Annual Report.  This year thirty Clubhouse Members, Staff and Management Committee share their own Stepping Stone Clubhouse highlights, memory or achievement from the last three decades.  What is your favourite?

Melanie Sennett 

What was your Favourite Memories at Stepping Stone?

In honour of our 30 year anniversariy here are 30 quotes of Stepping Stone Clubhouse staff and members.

Our year in numbers

This year we completed our Evaluation Project and released the report.  The project was done in partnership with Enable Health Consulting, Queensland Mental Health Commission and University of Queensland and funded by Queensland Health.  The evaluation design incorporated mixed methods, longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches comparing existing Stepping Stone members with new members.  Results showed the following: In March we hosted an Evaluation Launch and thank-you to Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner for officially launching the report.  Thank-you also to the numerous people who have been involved in this project.  

Click here to see more outcomes

LESS visits to hospital for their mental health in the past 6 months

MORE satisfaction with their lives

Official Opening

On 16th July we were privileged to have our official opening of Stepping Stone North clubhouse. 

This year we opened Stepping Stone North. This has been a dream of ours for many years. Thanks to the support of Queensland Health, Australian Department of Health and Brisbane City Council we were able to develop our new Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is part of the 7th Brigade Park at Chermside and we are fast becoming a valued member of the Brisbane north community.

We would like to thank the Honourable Emma McBride MP, Australian Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP, Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, the Honourable Bart Mellish MP, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services and Member for Aspley, the Honourable Jimmy Sullivan MP, Queensland Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans’ Affairs and Member for Stafford and the Honourable Councillor Danita Parry, Local Councillor for Marchant Ward.   

Thank you also to Uncle Alex for your warm Welcome to Country.     

Stepping Stone North is so grateful for supporters, funding, donations, sponsors and corporate partnerships that have made this clubhouse a reality….and most of all the incredible members at Stepping Stone North.  

Milestones

Together, these milestones showcase the growth and evolution of Stepping Stone North, illustrating our commitment to building a supportive and thriving community and creating pathways to better mental health. A year of many firsts, first cake, first walk, first social recreation, first outreach call.

Deciding on our name

November 2023 – Choosing our name was a pivotal moment for us, representing our mission and values. This process involved input from all members, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to our community. 

Creating our logo

December 2023 – Creating our logo was a fun experience, as it encapsulated our vision and spirit and keeps us connected to our roots at Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. This design process was a collaborative effort, reflecting the essence of Stepping Stone North. 

Receiving our shirts

December 2023 – In January, we proudly donned our new shirts, which not only united us visually but also strengthened our identity as Stepping Stone North. Each shirt became a symbol of our commitment and camaraderie. 

Getting our first car

14th February – On Valentine’s Day, we welcomed our first vehicle! This car helped us expand our reach, carry out individual support and made it easier to transport members and supplies for various activities, events and outreach efforts. 

Getting the key to our building

22nd February – This significant date marked the beginning of our journey, as we officially received the keys to our new space. It symbolised the opening of new opportunities and the excitement of creating a vibrant clubhouse for our members on the north side of Brisbane. 

Setting up our Clubhouse premises

26th February This was the first day we came to our new premises for a full day to start the long journey of setting up our space. We were operating with existing members from Stepping Stone in Coorparoo and our SSN staff to clean and pick up donated furniture and set up computers.

Had our first Clubhouse lunch

1st March – Sharing our first clubhouse lunch (BBQ) was a delightful way to build connections among members. It set the tone for many future gatherings and strengthened our community bonds. 

First member’s birthday cake

1st March – Celebrating our first member’s birthday with cake brought everyone together in joy and reflection. This set a benchmark for the many more birthdays to come that will be celebrated amongst us at Stepping Stone North. 

First lunchtime walk

6th March – Our inaugural lunchtime walk encouraged physical activity and social interaction as part of our Healthy Active Lifestyle Program (HALP). It has become a cherished tradition, promoting daily exercise and building relationships among all of us.  

First house meeting

13th March – We came together for our first House Meeting in our new premises with existing members and staff to discuss all important ideas and issues as we planned to open to new members the following week.  

Opened our doors

18th March – We officially opened our doors to the community on March 18th, welcoming everyone to experience what Stepping Stone North has to offer. This was a joyful day filled with hope and possibility. 

Working bees

19th April, 6th June (Coorparoo) & 21st June (CISCO) – These working bees were essential in maintaining and improving our space. They fostered teamwork and engagement, allowing us all to take pride in our environment. 

Official opening day

16th July – The official opening on July 16th was a day of celebration, bringing the community together to recognise our achievements and future aspirations. It was a vibrant start to our journey, filled with hope and excitement for what lies ahead. 

Bart Mellish MP visit

9th August – The visit from Bart Mellish MP for his election campaign announcement was a highlight, providing us with insights and inspiration. It reinforced our commitment to the community and showcased our efforts to stakeholders. We experienced our first press conference

In November 2023, Cisco gave their Time2Give volunteering days in the Coorparoo Clubhouse kitchen and café. 

Over 4 visits we had some of the wonderful staff working with us, and the relationship bloomed. Everyone had an absolute blast working together across the Hospitality Unit, there was so much laughter and comradery, and the Cisco crew turning up in party shirts just cemented the friendship.

We would like to personally thank Emma Crome for instigating this opportunity, and Terry Weber for giving his team at Cisco this opportunity. We have always wanted to create Corporate Partnerships, and the partnership we have created with Cisco is beyond anything we could ever imagine, and each and every one of them is part of the Stepping Stone family now.

Author: Jaimi Rogers.

What Cisco staff had to say:

“It was a truly inspirational and heart-warming experience working with the crew at Stepping Stone and all their members. The help they provide their members to feel confident, grow and integrate into the community validates faith in humanity.”

“Spending a day at Stepping Stone was not exactly the experience that we thought it would be. It was supposed to be a group of ‘us Cisco people’ dropping in for a few hours and doing a few odd jobs to help. It was supposed to be ‘us’ helping ‘them’. Within the first 20 minutes of arriving, the ‘us’ and ‘them’ disappeared and it was done in a way that was inclusive and powerful. One of the members volunteered to manage the allocation of people against the day’s tasks. It completely relied on volunteers putting their hand up to accept responsibility for each task. This ‘management’ style created a feeling of individual freedom while also creating a certain momentum of effort. I came away seeing a new way of doing things and a wonderful way of creating a team. This is a truly special place that is creating independence for people who need it and is doing it in a way that the corporate world could learn a few things from.”

“What can I say, it’s beyond words. Volunteering with Stepping Stone was truly an honour. The Clubhouse community is filled with authentic and generous individuals. It was a wonderful opportunity to assist and gain insight into their impactful work, particularly in supporting those with mental health challenges. Taking on such a significant responsibility is commendable, and my heartfelt kudos go out to the entire crew for their dedication.”

View our audited financial statements (PDF)

On the 21st of June we had our first official corporate partners Working Bee with our awesome supporters Cisco who helped us transform our gardens from ‘Drab to Fab’. We also spent the morning engaged side by side in the kitchen to cook a scrumptious lunch. We are so grateful for the Cisco team for their support and teamwork that made the day special and memorable.  

To start our Working Bee, we had a cuppa together and provided Cisco with our famous Clubhouse tour, led by our fabulous and knowledgeable members. Our Clubhouse tours are so important, because we were able to show Cisco how beneficial our Clubhouse environment is to us. Next, we had our morning meeting together where we engaged the Cisco team in the daily activities of the Clubhouse, which members can voluntarily become involved in. We begin each morning meeting checking in with each other, taking the pulse of the group and sharing what self-care we have been practicing each day.  

After toiling in the gardens, we shared a special lunch with all the Stepping Stone members and the Cisco team. We are so grateful for all the help and support from everyone who was involved in making such a fabulous day happen.  

This was the result of our collective team spirit. 

What Cisco staff had to say:

Emma: ‘I loved seeing the Northside Clubhouse in action. Looking forward to the next time we all get to jump in and work side by side!’ 

Hannah: ‘Favourite way to spend my morning. Thank you for having us, I thought I’d gotten away paint free, but I have blue paint all over my arms!’ 

Sam: ‘Thanks so much to all the team for having us. Great morning with your incredible members. Look forward to returning soon.’ 

Andrew: ‘Fantastic day with the amazing team and members at Stepping Stone North! Thanks for having us.’ 

Adam: ‘Thank you for letting us spend the morning with you. It was great to help out, get to know some members and learn more about the great work that Stepping Stone North does. I look forward to the next working bee.’ 

On the 23rd of May, 2024, Stepping Stone Clubhouse members and staff attended the Cisco Event - Trivia for Charity – A Night of Giving – at Cloudland’s Rose Room in Fortitude Valley.

It was a huge success, raising over $35k through ticket sales, raffles, and a silent auction. This raised enough funds to enable several staff and members to attend the Clubhouse international seminar in September 2024, and wouldn’t have been possible without the sponsors who supported Cisco and Stepping Stone Clubhouse in funding the event: 

• Invise

• Insite

• Truis

• Vandalist 

• Rivernet.

On the night we donned our best frocks, put on our dancing shoes, and glammed up for a night of brain-busting trivia, infinite laughs, both happy and sad tears, and new-found connections between like-minded individuals. 

Staff and members walked around meeting and greeting attendees and sponsors, selling raffle tickets, and dropping hints for the trivia quiz later that evening. Members, Sian and Dana, made speeches, enthralling the audience and engaging them with their stories, and conveying the positive impact that Stepping Stone Clubhouse has made on their lives since joining. Of all 180+ attendees there, a pin dropping could have been heard during these speeches, their eyes on our speakers in rapt attention. 

When all was said and done, the night wouldn’t have been possible without Emma and Hannah from Cisco leading the way, with their dedication and passion to help along with this event. These two wonderful women worked their magic to make this event happen, and we will forever be grateful for their contributions. 

With the winners of the trivia, raffles, silent auctions, and lucky door prizes announced, the night wound down to a close, with our staff and members enthusiastically handing out to-go boxes of Stepping Stone Clubhouse’s famous brownies. Many of which didn’t even make it out the door before being eaten by enthusiastic party-goers.

Author: Dana Louis.

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