People arrive at First Step with all of their life experiences – trauma, mental distress, poor physical health, legal issues, addiction, or housing insecurity.
We know that chronic addiction and mental distress is often a long-term, painful response to trauma, abuse and neglect. Our team works across mental health, addiction and legal services to share the journey, so clients don’t have to do it alone.
The path is rarely smooth, but together, we know we can make a difference.
First Step is a not-for-profit addiction, mental health and legal services hub in St Kilda, Melbourne.
We provide free services to thousands of vulnerable Victorians every year, with the firm belief that everybody deserves every chance to turn their lives around.
First Step provides a uniquely multi-disciplinary team of GPs, psychologists, nurse practitioners, lawyers, mental health nurses, care coordinators, counsellors, along with our outpatient program ResetLife.
All for free. All from one team. All at one site.
First Step’s General Practitioners (GPs) form the core of the support team, providing primary care, planning and referral. They may work with the client on:
• Replacement pharmacotherapy (methadone, buprenorphine, suboxone or...
The Work and Development Permit (WDP) scheme provides vulnerable and disadvantaged people with a non-financial way of paying off their fine debt, by participating in certain activities and treatment.
A person must...
Flexible Funding Brokerage (FFB) is a program designed to support people with severe mental distress to overcome the financial barriers to social inclusion. FFB funds the purchase of items and services to...
ResetLife is a free, abstinence-based, alcohol and drug treatment program, based on the Matrix Treatment Model.
It involves 16 weeks of structured, intensive, outpatient treatment, followed by 36 weeks of continuing care....
First Step’s mental health services include flexible support for people with moderate to severe mental distress, and can include mental health nursing, psychological counselling, care coordination and psychiatry.
Mental Health Integrated Complex...
“I reached out to First Step in desperation when I needed to see a doctor. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t able to help?
The First Step team treated me so well, they were so nice and friendly and welcoming and it makes a world of difference to be treated that way. And it wasn’t just me, I overheard them speaking on the phone to other people as well as saw them interact with other patients as they came and went and they treated everyone with the same amount of respect and it was just so nice to see.
I am sure you are already aware but you have a wonderful bunch of people working there. It makes a world of difference to be treated well and I just wanted to let you know.”
- First Step client
July 23, 2024
The media has been abuzz in recent weeks about increasing youth crime rates and the Victorian Government's decision to tighten youth bail laws.
Read MoreJune 11, 2024
“First Step is the solution to the problems indicated by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System” – Dr Nico Clark, First Step Clinical Director.
Read MoreJune 11, 2024
Sometimes, life doesn’t go to plan. Max* planned to spend his life helping people. He trained as a health care worker and was building his career when some past trauma began to creep up and some financial losses threw him in a spin.
Read More
