About Kindred Clubhouse
A place to belong, where everyone works together in connection, purpose and friendship.
1,000+ Peer Support Hours
192 Members Since Inception
2015 Clubhouse Established
Only Clubhouse in Victoria
Stefanie Poole
Founder and Director, standing in front of Fountain House the first Clubhouse established in NYC in 1948.
Our Story
The Spark
Kindred began with a spark lit by a mental health clinician who saw the need for stronger community support. She believed people living with mental health challenges and their families deserved better. She also knew the community itself held the power to create the care it needed.
So, at a local meeting in the Frankston Library, she proposed building a Clubhouse. What followed was beyond motivation. It was collective effervescence, the unshakeable feeling of “We’re in this together, and we can build something better”.
From shared meals in borrowed spaces to ideas sketched on fold-out tables, the vision grew. Kindred Clubhouse was, and still is, built by community united in purpose, mission and belief.
Becoming a Clubhouse
Inspired by the International Clubhouse Model, Kindred has grown since 2014 to become part of a global movement that values inclusion, dignity and shared purpose.
The first Clubhouse, Fountain House, opened in New York in 1948. Since that time, it has grown to over 370 Clubhouses in 32 countries around the world. Clubhouse International offers people living with mental illness opportunities for friendship, employment, housing, education and access to medical and psychiatric services in a single caring and safe environment
Moments That Shaped Us
2014
First community consultation at Frankston Library: “What do you want this space to be?”
2016
Began at Ebdale Hub in Frankston, run entirely by volunteers who built momentum.
2020
Major funding win: Secured federal funding to open a functioning Clubhouse in Hastings.
2024
Partnered with Mentis to launch the CPS Program, expanding member support.
2025
Celebrated 5 years in Hastings with members, volunteers and partners.
Continuing Growth, Always Connected.
Today, Kindred Clubhouse continues to grow, shaped every day by the people who walk through the door. More than a service, we’re a shared effort to create something more human in the mental health space.
We’re proud of where we’ve been. And even more excited for where we’re going together.
Meet the Team
Behind Kindred Clubhouse is a team of dedicated people who care deeply about mental health and community. We bring lived experience, professional skills and a shared commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space where everyone belongs.
Board Members
Michael Sillekens
Brad McLean
Karen Dixon
Nicky Barr
Nick White
Eric Lindner
Craig James
Team Members
Stefanie Poole
Karsten Poll
Cathleen
Alana
Holly
Liam
Shilpa
Courtney
Doug
Toni
Mary
Read Our Annual Reports
Every year, we share the progress, stories and outcomes that shape Kindred Clubhouse. Our impact reports highlight the difference we make together in members’ lives, in our community and in the broader mental health space.
Join the Movement
This energy was made for sharing.
By joining or donating, you’re supporting a safe, welcoming space where people living with mental illness can connect, thrive and belong.
