The First Step Model: Whole-person care built in St Kilda
At First Step, we believe real change happens when people are met with compassion and offered all the help they need, in one place.
For 25 years, our St Kilda clinic has pioneered Australia’s only fully integrated model of care, bringing together general practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, lived-experience workers and lawyers under one roof. We call it the First Step Model.
The First Step Model is not just an aspiration - it’s a defined and replicable approach to care. It combines clear values, principles of collaboration, essential roles and key resources. Within any organisation, these elements can be measured, refined and strengthened through continuous effort.
Our medical, mental health, legal and support staff work side by side every day, sharing knowledge and responsibility for each client’s progress. It’s a non-hierarchical approach, where the team communicates, negotiates and prioritises together. We address every part of a person’s life, from physical and mental health to housing, legal and social needs.
This collaborative model removes the burden of navigating multiple systems or retelling painful stories again and again. Instead, our clients find a safe, connected space where care is coordinated and goals are led by them.
Recognised by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Productivity Commission and independent evaluators, the First Step Model is now helping shape conversations across Australia about what compassionate, effective care can look like.
Built in St Kilda - and proven by thousands of lives changed - it’s a model of hope we’re proud to share with the world.
