The First Step Program

The First Step Program First Step is a not-for-profit addiction, mental health and legal services hub in Melbourne. All for free. All from one team. All at one site.

We provide free services to thousands of vulnerable Victorians every year. First Step provides a uniquely multi-disciplinary team of GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, mental health nurses, care coordinators, counsellors, and peer group educators. Many of our clients live stable lives, connected with family, work and education. But our multi-disciplinary team specialises in supporting people with complex needs, those at risk of hospitalisation for their mental health, imprisonment, homelessness, or worse. At First Step we believe that chronic addiction is generally a long-term, painful adaptation to childhood abuse and neglect, and that timely and effective treatment is a matter of social justice that benefits all of society. We work to keep people connected to their families, participating in society and taking control of their own lives. Learn more about our work at www.firststep.org.au. COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

The First Step Program page provides a space for people to find out more about First Step, as well as to encourage discussion about important issues like substance use disorders and mental illness. First Step monitors its social media pages between 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays only. First Step posts are occasionally automatically generated outside of these hours and on Victorian public holidays, if this occurs the posts will not be moderated until the following business day between 9am to 5pm. Please be respectful of all points of view and refrain from personal attacks on other users and people who may be featured in our posts. First Step will remove any posts which:

• are likely to be offensive to other readers;
• discuss methods or depicts images of su***de or self-harm;
• discuss drug usage in an unbalanced way, e.g. omit the negative effects;
• contain unhelpful advice, such as blaming a person for their alcohol or other drug use;
• are dogmatic, such as setting out courses of action as “the only way”;
• are racist, sexist, trans/bi/homophobic or in any other way discriminatory;
• are obscene, or uses graphic sexual language;
• are defamatory, or overly critical of services or organisations which provide help to others;
• are likely to cause harm/distress to other people reading the story;
• are posted for commercial purposes; or
• promote inaccurate, inappropriate or harmful health advice. Users who repeatedly violate the above conditions may be blocked from the First Step page. The First Step page does not provide counselling or crisis services. If you need immediate assistance, please call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25. In an emergency situation, please call 000. If a post on any First Step social media page indicates a person may be at risk of harm, First Step will reply to the post as soon as possible and provide information on counselling and crisis support services. In some instances, First Step may report a post which indicates a person may be at risk of harm to authorities, including the police. First Step can take no responsibility for comments from followers on the First Step social media pages.

"From my first interaction at First Step, I felt seen. I was treated as a person, not a condition. I was never pitied, n...
08/10/2025

"From my first interaction at First Step, I felt seen. I was treated as a person, not a condition. I was never pitied, never judged." - Sam Pryer, Peer Support Coordinator, 2021 - current

For 25 years, we’ve walked alongside thousands. With your support, we can walk with thousands more.

👉 Donate now: https://www.firststep.org.au/donate

People who use drugs are doing their best to stay safe, even when the world around them makes it hard.New research shows...
07/10/2025

People who use drugs are doing their best to stay safe, even when the world around them makes it hard.

New research shows more people are carrying naloxone and using drug checking to understand what’s really in their substances. These are smart, caring choices, but stigma and politics still get in the way.

Everyone deserves the tools to stay alive and well.

Adulterated drugs and a shortage of pill testing services is making it hard for people who use drugs to stay safe. But they’re taking matters into their own hands.

"The ResetLife program has allowed me to tap into an inner courage that I didn’t know existed. Today, I can face challen...
07/10/2025

"The ResetLife program has allowed me to tap into an inner courage that I didn’t know existed. Today, I can face challenges. It’s like I have found a strength to give myself permission to advocate for me. That is a first. I didn’t think I had that in me. I would always prefer to help others, then help myself. I can actually do both, so long as I put myself and my recovery first." - Mia, client

For 25 years, we’ve walked alongside thousands. With your support, we can walk with thousands more.

👉 Donate now:
https://www.firststep.org.au/donate

"From the start of my nursing career, I was taught you don’t separate the person from their environment or history and t...
06/10/2025

"From the start of my nursing career, I was taught you don’t separate the person from their environment or history and that healing is never just clinical." - Joe Fishburn, Clinical Lead, 2012 - current

For 25 years, we’ve walked alongside thousands. With your support, we can walk with thousands more.

👉 Donate now: https://www.firststep.org.au/donate

"We never forget that our clients are human beings. We see the whole story, not just the charge sheet. Our work is about...
04/10/2025

"We never forget that our clients are human beings. We see the whole story, not just the charge sheet. Our work is about creating opportunities for redemption and change." - Tania Wolff, Director First Step Legal, 2012 - current

For 25 years, we’ve walked alongside thousands. With your support, we can walk with thousands more.

👉 Donate now: https://www.firststep.org.au/donate

"I was lucky enough to work at First Step as a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse between 2010–2013. It was truly one of t...
03/10/2025

"I was lucky enough to work at First Step as a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse between 2010–2013. It was truly one of the most formative, eye-opening and rewarding chapters of my professional career. Situated in one of Melbourne’s most vibrant yet complex suburbs, St Kilda, the clinic offered far more than just worthwhile professional development and clinical experience, it was a place of raw humanity, resilience and deep connection." - Donal McGoldrick, Credentialed Mental Health Nurse, 2010 - 2013

For 25 years, we’ve walked alongside thousands. With your support, we can walk with thousands more.

👉 Donate now: https://www.firststep.org.au/donate

This October, we’ll be sharing 25 powerful reasons to give to First Step.Each one is a true story, real quote or unforge...
30/09/2025

This October, we’ll be sharing 25 powerful reasons to give to First Step.

Each one is a true story, real quote or unforgettable moment that shows why your support matters.

Watch this space!

For 25 years First Step has helped thousands of people rebuild their lives.Every small win - a court case resolved, a di...
29/09/2025

For 25 years First Step has helped thousands of people rebuild their lives.

Every small win - a court case resolved, a diagnosis explained, a family reunited - has added up to something powerful.

Thank you to every client, staff member, supporter and partner who made it happen.



(Photo: Staff circa 2017)

We’re more than a clinic. We’re a team of GPs, lawyers, psychologists, mental health nurses and caseworkers, all working...
25/09/2025

We’re more than a clinic. We’re a team of GPs, lawyers, psychologists, mental health nurses and caseworkers, all working together so our clients don’t fall through the cracks.

It’s not just one service. It’s a whole step forward.



(Photo: First Step volunteers circa 2004)

At First Step, we believe every person deserves every chance to turn their life around.We treat addiction as a health is...
22/09/2025

At First Step, we believe every person deserves every chance to turn their life around.

We treat addiction as a health issue, not a moral failing, and wrap people in support that goes beyond a quick fix.



(Photo: Dr John Gunzburg and Patrick Lawrence circa 2009)

First Step's Clinical Director, Nico Clark, on Radio National this morning - have a listen:
18/09/2025

First Step's Clinical Director, Nico Clark, on Radio National this morning - have a listen:

In 2018, in the Melbourne suburb of North Richmond, a growing he**in crisis saw the state government open Victoria's first - and still only - medically supervised injecting room. It was designed to stem the tide of fatal overdosing and move public drug use off the street. But it was also a lightenin...

In 2000, First Step opened its doors thanks to the vision and courage of Rev Tim Costello, Peter White and Dr Simon Rose...
18/09/2025

In 2000, First Step opened its doors thanks to the vision and courage of Rev Tim Costello, Peter White and Dr Simon Rose.

Their mission was simple: to save lives and offer treatment and rehabilitation options that didn't exist.

25 years on, we're still here.



(The Age July 2000)

Address

18 Mitford Street
St Kilda, VIC
3182

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The First Step Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our Story

First Step is a mental health and addiction treatment ‘hub’ located in St.kilda, Vic. For nearly 20 years we have practiced the team care of clients, providing free-of-charge access to GP's (with vast AOD experience) psychologists, psychiatrists, case workers, mental health nurses, criminal and specialist family violence lawyers among others.

All practitioners practice from the one location at 42 Carlisle Street, St.Kilda. This is essential for people suffering from acute addiction & mental health as they are often too chaotic to cope with multiple appointments and whose care is optimised by accessing the expertise of multiple practitioners all working together.

First Step truly understands that effective treatment of highly complex conditions (like mental ill-health and addiction) is contingent on the input of different areas of expertise and this is extensively facilitated within the operating structure of First Step.

It is our mission to ensure that every person has every chance to turn their lives around.