On October 9th, First Step opened its doors to past and present staff, volunteers and board members to celebrate our 25th birthday.
Held at Mitford Street, the evening brought together people from across different eras of First Step’s history, reconnecting former colleagues, sharing stories, and reflecting on the organisation’s evolution over the past quarter century. Guests were invited to explore the new building and a specially curated history exhibit tracing key moments in First Step’s journey.
Click on this image to take a closer look:
In her opening remarks, Mental Health Services Manager Kym Coupe reflected that while the organisation’s focus is often (understandably) on clients and the work itself, the celebration was an opportunity to honour the people who carry that work every day.
A central moment of the evening was the unveiling of a permanent staff recognition installation in the front garden. Over several weeks leading up to the event, clients were invited to contribute short thank you messages to staff via a feedback box at reception. In just a few words, people shared what First Step, and its staff, had meant to them: messages of gratitude, kindness, hope and respect.
Those words were then transformed into a commissioned sculpture, with the client messages cut directly into the metalwork itself, creating a permanent reflection of the relationships at the heart of First Step.
The evening also featured a moving tribute video bringing together messages from clients, staff, supporters and friends of the organisation. Heartfelt and deeply human, the montage captured something difficult to express through statistics or reports alone: the impact of compassion, welcome and persistence over time.
You can watch it here:
There were also toasts to First Step’s history and future, birthday cake, a piñata, and the launch of the 25 Stories for 25 Years commemorative book.
More than anything, the evening created space to pause, reconnect and acknowledge the extraordinary community that has shaped First Step over the past 25 years.
See photos from the event on our Facebook page.
