Stepping Stone Clubhouse is a certified member of the

International Centre for Clubhouse Development

Creating pathways to better mental health
PO Box 249, Unit 9/61 Holdsworth St, Coorparoo QLD 4151
www.steppingstoneclubhouse.org.au

Adventures of Binna Burra Camping Article Pg

Binna Burra Camping

By Tom Grace Trip
1-2

I awoke on the first of April with a sense of foreboding and anticipation. The Visit From Kevin Rudd 3

idea of the Binna Burra camp excited me, but also the thought of such a long Training At The
4
Independence Centre
road trip in the ute filled me with doubt...will I make it? Will it be everything
I hoped for? And not surprisingly, it filled all of my expectations. Picturesque Training Report 5
scenery akin to something out of Lord of the Rings crept up on me, and as I
Staff Interview 6
made my way through the valley on the Nerang – Murwillumbah road heading
towards Binna Burra, my mind was racing with the thoughts of sleeping out in RBWH Health Expo 7

the cold, under the stars and with the leeches. Dental Services Article 8

We arrived at Binna Burra to find the members from Toowoomba, already TE Interview 9
settled with snacks and coffee served. The thought of making new friends was
circling around my brain. I met a range of wonderful people whose readiness E & E & Housing Report 10

to connect was apparent. Hospitality & CAT

Report
11

Friday night was spent sitting around a warm fire, telling tales, stories and Members Volunteering 12
singing along to chilled out music. The smell of marsh mellows toasting filled Community Information
my nostrils with that old camping smell while a few shivers ran up my spine & Birthdays
13

from the bitter cold. Members dropped like flies to their bunks steadily Housing Profile
14
Interview
throughout the night, while a small group of night owls sat around telling
Cool Photos From
jokes and sharing some deep details, which were told in the highest Recent Events
15
confidentiality.

Look out
for our
Social
Recreation
Calendar
Insert!

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm

2nd & 4th Friday of the month (E& E Dinner), Wednesday Weekly 4:30pm—7:30pm (Social/Recreation)
Thursday Weekly 4.30pm - 6:30pm (Exercise)
Saturday 11am - 4pm (Social/Recreation); Sunday 11am-3pm (Social/Recreation); Public Holidays 11am-4pm (Social/
Recreation)
 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

The following day, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise in the crisp mountain air and revelled in the
amazing scenery. I commenced the day that was full of exciting activities that catered to the
incredibly brave and limber. These ranged from rainforest walks, to a flying fox that was
considered to be something akin to a Dreamworld roller coaster. I could choose to relax and take
in everything the camp offered and I had the option to trek a ten kilometre journey, with or
without injuring my knee like Shazza. Although a mountain bike ride was beyond me, many other
campers hopped on their steel steed and rode through the mountains almost like John Wayne
without the stirrups.

After a full day of excitement people returned exhausted, but with enough left in their tank to
join in on the bush dancing extravaganza in the main lodge. It was worth the muscle pain and the
sleep deprivation. On returning from the dance, campers sat around the fire, feeling relaxed and
satisfied and again told jokes and made connections.

The friendships formed will without doubt be the precipice to lifelong relationships, not only for
the campers but also for Stepping Stone Clubhouse, Toowoomba Clubhouse and Canefields
Clubhouse.

On behalf of all the Campers on the 2011 Binna Burra camp, we would like to congratulate Shazza
and Michelle for their outstanding effort and organisational skills to make this camp stay in the
memories of all of us. We also thank Darren and Sian for their contribution in running the event.
Thank you for showing us that your care and mateship comes from the heart, as our appreciation
does for you.

Upcoming Event—Inter Clubhouse Fun Day!

By Dave G

Saturday 28 May, Limestone Park, Ipswich

Plans for the Inaugural Inter-Clubhouse Fun Day are well under way and we are
all getting excited at the prospect of a fun-filled day of games, sports and
activities with our brothers and sisters from Jacaranda, Canefields & Toowoomba
Clubhouses. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for continual up-
dates as to the progress.

Page 2 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

NEWS FLASH! Editorial…

By Dave G

Foreign Minister and

Local Member of Parlia-
ment, The Hon. KEVIN
RUDD M.P visited Step-
ping Stone Clubhouse
today!
As this Newsletter goes
to print, all here at the
Clubhouse are excited to have been fortunate
enough to meet the Hon. Kevin Rudd M.P, our
Local Member of Parliament and Foreign Min-
ister. for the Commonwealth Of Australia..
The Minister and his Electorate Assistant at-
tended without any fanfare or media circus,
and was casually shown around our Clubhouse
by Shane H. who introduced the Minister to
Members and Staff.
We here at the Clubhouse were very im-
pressed at the manner in which Mr. Rudd took
his time to individually speak to members and
staff and it was clearly evident that he was
impressed by what he saw and those he spoke
to.
The Minister even took the time to savour
some of our home made patty cakes, and was
clearly happy to take time to pose with mem-
bers and staff for both individual and group
photographs.
In next month’s
Newsletter, there
will be heaps more
photo’s of mem-
bers and staff as
well as reporting
on this most auspi-
cious occasion.
Another month has passed and we have
plenty of jam packed articles for you to enjoy
reading! The report on the combined Clubhouse
camp kicks things off in this months newsletter.
We’ve got special reports from our (recently
returned) training group, community expo and
community garden, as well as our usual unit
reports. There are profiles on staff, members
and T.E. jobs– read them to get to know us
better!
Don’t forget to read the article about the
Inter Clubhouse fun day on page 2. We also had
a visit from our ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
and there is a piece to read on page 3.
Clubhouse Mission Statement:
T he Clubhouse’s mission is to assist
adults with a mental illness in
developing the skills and confidence
necessary to lead satisfying and
productive lives in their community.
This assistance is provided in a
psychosocial program designed to
empower and support its members.
Clubhouse Membership
Rights
- The right to a place to come
- The right to meaningful relationships
- The right to meaningful work
- A right to a place to return

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 3

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011
Training at the Independence Center, St. Louis, USA
By Kathryn
G’day mates! John, Tania and I arrived back
in Brisbane on Sunday 27th March after three
weeks of Clubhouse training at the
Independence Center, St. Louis, USA. It can
be daunting to go overseas for three weeks
but everyone was so welcoming and friendly
that we felt at home straight away. It
seems the Clubhouse model is so strong that
Clubhouses globally reflect the same
attitude that we have here at Stepping
Stone. In particular, what really stood out
to me was the sense of community, which
has become such an important part of my
life and I’m sure the same goes for many
others involved in Clubhouse worldwide.
Training was intense but really fun! We did
lots of reading, attended discussions, spent
a lot of time in units and took part in
various social activities. We had some time
on our own when we enjoyed the St.
Patrick’s Day parade and saw Chuck Berry
(who is 84 years old and still rocking!). St.
Louis is also famous for the Gateway Arch,
known as “The Gateway to the West”. It
stands 192 m tall and 192 m wide at its
base… very impressive!
By the end of our training we had learnt so
much and had a great sense of achievement
as we presented our Action Plan to the rest
of our group. The first thing which hit me
about the Independence Center, (or IC as
they like to call it) was the sheer size of the
Clubhouse- it is absolutely massive! It is
three floors/levels and they have an
average daily attendance of 250 members.
Our average daily attendance is 60
members, so you can imagine the
difference! The units are named by floor
(whereas at Stepping Stone our units are
Page 4
named after their function). The units
allow for diversity. For example, on the
lower level they have a video lab and a gym;
on Street Level they have a bank, store,
orientation, employment and reception
areas; on the upper Level they have the
kitchen, copy centre and flower shop.
During our experience at the IC we put
together three main goals in an Action Plan.
These goals were presented to the
Clubhouse last week. They were further
built upon with input from members and
staff in attendance. They are as follows:
Media/PR
To set up a video/media centre to
better communicate within
Clubhouse and promote Stepping
Stone in the broader community.
This goal will be taken on by the CAT
unit.
Education
To strengthen our Supported
Education Program at Stepping Stone.
This goal will be taken on by the E&E
unit.
Exercise
To compile the results from our
exercise survey and implement an
Exercise Program to appeal to all.
This goal will be taken on by the
Housing unit.
If you want to be involved in the
development and implementation of these
goals, please stop by one of the units and
let us know! Also, if we haven’t seen you
since we got back, come in to Clubhouse
and say hello!
It’s good to be back!
The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.
 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Training at the Independence Center, St Louis, USA Continued

By John K

I have been coerced into writing an
article for this publication, though really
I am so enthusiastic about training that it
wasn’t hard to convince me.
First of all, I have to say that Stepping
Stone Clubhouse is AWESOME!
I recently travelled to St Louis in Missouri point of view, they were a great pair to
USA, where I was involved in three weeks
of training in the Clubhouse model. This
was at the Independence Center (IC),
which is what they call their Clubhouse
(even though they spell centre wrong).
This training is like what we give to other
clubhouses who visit us. All that needs
to be said really is that the members
(and staff) of IC were very friendly and
accommodating (just like us), and I
would be happy to spend more time in
their clubhouse.
Training was pretty intense as I had a lot forward to getting more involved in
of reading to do most nights. My days
were mostly spent in the lower level
unit, as Independence Center is in a
three story building. The lower level
where I spent most of my time, houses
the gym and ‘Video Underground’, which experience.
is the video lab where their news is
broadcast. Although it sounds great to
have a gym in clubhouse, it is not going
to happen here, so don’t get too excited.
On the other hand, the ability to film
documentaries, mock job interviews,
‘Meet & Greet’ role plays, tour training
videos and a myriad of other
opportunities exist if we put together a
video lab. I am really excited about the
possibilities of an audio visual media
centre. If you are interested and have
not heard about the video working group,
come to E&E and see me or Special K.
I travelled with Kathryn (Special K) from
E&E and Tania ($T) from CAT. From my
travel with, as Special K is eager and
impetuous and just great. $T on the
other hand is not worried about anything
or anyone, and she’s great too. Together
we enjoyed the sites & sounds of St Louis
(which is pronounced Saint Lewis). The
members and staff showed us around and
I had a great time.
I would definitely encourage anyone to
put their name down to go to training,
whether here or overseas. I learnt much
about the Clubhouse model and look
training here at Steps.
I would like to thank everyone who was
involved in the decision to send me on
training as it was a very valuable

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 5

Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Interview with Rick

By Christian

Rick, I believe you have worked for Clubhouse for a while

now, so when did you start and can you tell us the unit
you work in?
I started in Aug 2009 and I work in the CAT unit -the best
unit of all!
How exactly did you hear about and come to work for
Clubhouse?
I heard about it through the internet when I was working in
a disability community organization and Stepping Stone
offered me an opportunity to develop my interest in mental
health care and improving people’s quality of life, so I made
the change to Clubhouse and I haven’t looked back.
Rick, what part of Clubhouse do you enjoy the most?
I love helping people and seeing a positive change in their
lives above anything. I also love the variety of jobs and
people I meet during the work ordered day.
Do you find there are any parts of working at clubhouse that really challenge you?
Yes definitely, I am a quiet person by nature, and still find it challenging at times (although
incredibly rewarding) to meet lots of new people and having to talk to all different kinds of
people from all different walks of life.
Do you have any hobbies or sport that you enjoy?
Yes, I do. I like to mountain bike when I find the time and I also enjoy photography, rock
climbing and bouldering.
Rock climbing sounds really interesting, what is your most exciting climb?
My favorite place to boulder is a little place just outside of Armidale. The boulder field is
huge, like one massive playground for me, with heaps of mentally and physically challenging
problems (climbs) that are heaps of fun. I use to do a road trip there every winter and stay in
a caravan.
That is so awesome Rick, so if there was a dream climb you could take on and do what
would it be?
Yes there is, well really there are two. The first is called NANGENUKA in Armidale. It involves
a huge dynamic pull off from an insanely thin ledge, no wider than the width of two fifty cent
pieces, with only friction to push off from with your feet. The way in which you have to move
and twist is an unnatural feeling movement, but it feels awesome when you hit it and latch
onto the top hold. The other is called PINCH ME and is also unbelievable.
Rick, I hear you are married with children?
Yes, I sure am
Can you please tell us a little bit about your wife and children?
My wife’s name is Rachel and she is just so great to be around and really is my rock. I have a
seven yr old son called Tyler… he is into everything and always keen to try something new. He
is a lot of fun! My daughter Adah has just turned one and has begun walking over the last few
months. She wants to be on her feet all the time now– it’s quite cute, haha=). We have
number three (a boy) due in 11 wks.
What do you think of married life?
Married life is great. It has it challenges of course, however it is enormously rewarding and
satisfying. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Page 6 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Rick, do you have a favourite movie?

Yes, I do, Black Hawk Down. That movie was so intense, and to think that those kind of things
happen to soldiers in combat.
Rick, what is your favourite food?
Tacos with hot (I mean really hot) sauce.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time Rick?
I like to think of myself here in Stepping Stone still making a difference helping people.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as someone who was dedicated to his family above everything
else, and also as someone who made a difference for the better in the lives of the people who
I came into contact with.

RBWH Health Expo -

By Prue

On Thursday 7 April, Cheryl, Tom & myself attended a

Community Resource Expo, hosted by RBWH. Alongside
other community services & groups, we set up a very purple
Stepping Stone information stall, complete with images of
the Clubhouse work ordered day & social recreation activi-
ties, brochures, newsletters & resources. All presenters and
visitors to the Expo enjoyed the opportunity to network and
share information over coffee.
We gathered resources from the other stalls and met many people who were in-
terested in learning more about Stepping Stone, so we happily shared our enthusi-
asm for Clubhouse. Aside from having lovely chats, we also attended presenta-
tions, including: Primary Care in Mental Health, Indigenous Mental Health, Care
Plans, ATAPS and Healthy Lifestyle. I would like to express my hugest thanks to both
Cheryl and Tom – who engaged and chatted with so many people, sharing their
genuine passion for Clubhouse and made a fabulous impression upon so many.
Thanks, Prue

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 7

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011
Community Spotlight:
Dental Services Under Medicare
By Cheryl

Did you know that you can apply for a Medicare funded dental grant to the value of
$4250 through your GP, if you have a chronic disease such as Asthma, depression
and a number of other conditions?

Eligibility
• You must have a chronic medical condition and complex care needs. A
chronic medical condition is one that has been or is likely to be present for
at least six months. It may include, but is not limited to, conditions such as
asthma, cancer, cardiovascular illness, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, mental
illness, musculoskeletal conditions and stroke. If you are unsure, check
with your GP whether you are entitled to the funded dental grant.
• Under the Medicare chronic disease dental scheme, Medicare benefits are
available for most services provided by a dentist, dental specialist or
dental prosthetist in private dental surgeries. Benefits are not available
where services are provided to a person who has been admitted to a
hospital.

Process
• Check with your GP if you are eligible.
• Get a written quote for the work that is needed to be done from your
dentist
• Check with your dentist whether they will bulk bill (this is the best way so
you do not have to pay out any money)
• Organise appointments with your dentist.

Points you need to know

• You will be able to claim up to $4,250 in
Medicare Benefits for eligible dental
services over two consecutive calendar
years. You must have all the work done in
two years.
• You will be able to receive a further
$4,250 in Medicare benefits for dental
services in a subsequent two-year period
provided you continue to meet the
eligibility criteria.
• If you want to learn more about this you can also visit the web page -
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/fact%
20sheet_dental-patients.

Page 8 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Transitional Employment Interview with John Zyp

Where is your TE located and what is it called?

My job is at Jerendine House, Mt. Gravatt.
What do you enjoy about your TE?
I enjoy outdoor work on Thursdays, so I get to
keep the place free from weeds and mow lawns
and sweep too. I have a sense of usefulness to
see it all looking clean and tidy.
How long have you been at your current TE?
I have been at my current TE for 2 months.
How did you go about applying for your TE?
In order to become involved in this work, I talked to Sophie, read the leaflet, put
my name down on the board and then participated in work around the clubhouse.
This included lots of physical work like vacuuming, emptying bins, checking toilet
rolls, reception work and going to the post office to collect mail. I worked in the
CAT unit. Crystal took me out to Jerendine House. We looked up bus timetables
and I went to ARAFMI head office with
Sharon and filled out employment forms.
What are your plans when the TE is finished?
After completing this TE, I plan to find a similar job.
What would you recommend to members who might be interested in doing this
TE?
If you can catch a bus and start at the time that’s best for you, why not give it a
go. It’s easier than I thought it would be. There are a lot of friendly and
supportive people at Jerendine. If I had a problem they would help me.

Welcome New Members!!!

Stepping Stone Clubhouse would like to welcome the new members who joined us in
November
Welcome To Stepping Stone Clubhouse!

We have 10 new members who

have joined us in April, Including
Esam B, Paul Ross Fletcher, Peter
Gate, Corey Micheal, Maizey, Mae
Reuben, Cong Thanh Tran.

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 9

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

E & E Unit Report

It’s been a busy time for E&E this month. We have the Employment Breakfast on 17th May at the
Riverside Reception Centre in New Farm. We sent out invites to all our TE Employers and
prospective Employers. This will be a great opportunity to meet with our employers and
prospective employers and to thank them for their support. It happens every 2 years and the
breakfast menu looks amazing.
Kathryn and John have been back from training in the United States for 2 days. They had an
amazing time in the 3 weeks they were away and learnt lots about the Independence Centre in St
Louis. They brought back new ideas to improve our practice. They also said that we are an
awesome clubhouse and are really lucky to be where we are.
Congratulations to everyone who commenced TE’s this month. We have some new TE’s starting
in the near future which we are excited about.

Housing Unit Report

Housing Unit has had a very busy month and we have welcomed some new members who have
joined us along with some old members returning to say hi. Our month has been very focused on
housing support which has lead to 2 people moving into new accommodation which we have been
very excited about and also some major maintenance of the building. In fact the maintenance of
the building has become a major issue due to the growth of the clubhouse itself. We have had to
deal with the issues of phones, electricity upgrade, soap dispensers not working, roof repairs
required and air conditioner maintenance. We have had great success, with quotes being
submitted for mains cable upgrade and air conditioner annual maintenance.
With all that has been going on in housing we have enjoyed some fun activities as well. Some
of the team went to Toowoomba Clubhouse to see the site which has been picked for the next
Conference in 2012. They got to see the clubhouse in Toowoomba and have lunch with them as
well as see the renovations that are taking place at the clubhouse. They got to see a beautiful
site for the conference and were able to sit in on a meeting discussing the progress of the
organisation of the conference.
We also had the chance to help out the Hospitality unit on Good Deed Friday as a unit to join
them for their afternoon unit meeting and then assist with all their duties to get the Café and
Kitchen cleaned so everyone could enjoy the Club Ed meeting. It gave some of our members a
chance to see what another unit meeting involves as well as gave them a chance to participate in
different activities than what they have been use to.
We also have had some inspiration from members and staff to organize some new processes
such as Maintenance Trade people sign in and out sheet at the front desk and also general updates
for “How To Do” book. We have updated our filing system and also started new processes for
ordering products. The members have been great in providing ideas on how to improve the
Housing Unit and it is an exciting time to be working in the Housing Unit which is always busy.
It was also great to have Richard come and join us after finishing his time at his TE job at
Clough, and Martin soon to start his TE job at RBWH. The team is excited for them both.
It has really been a very busy time in the Housing unit and as much as we never seem to have
enough time in the day to achieve all that needs to be done, we have a good unit that works
together very well and enjoys the excitement of new members joining in with the unit. So if you
would like the chance to join in and be a part of the Housing Unit, you are more than welcome.

Page 10 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Hospitality Unit Report

We would like to start by thanking everyone who has come in over the past
month, and helped out in our unit! We would particularly like to thank the
members of the other units who have been coming down on Friday afternoons and
helping us clean up before Club Ed.

We are now gathering menu planning ideas at the house meeting every Tuesday,
so if you have any ideas please come along and let us know!
We have noticed a huge increase of people coming into the clubhouse, and an
increase in people coming in and helping us out – and we hope to see more of
everyone!!

We have been doing lots of awesome meals in our unit, and many of these meals
are available as frozen meals, so come on in and check them out!!
The hospitality unit is currently creating a wish list of items that we would like to
buy. This list includes; cups, knives, plates, blender, knife sharpener, stick blender,
tea towels, water pressure hose, commercial toaster, ice machine and water jugs.
We have recently bought a brand new massive rice cooker which provides us with
enough rice to serve 40 meals.

One final reminder – If it's your birthday please come in and have some cake and
celebrate with us!

C.A.T. Unit Report

It has been buzzing in CAT lately, with lots of exciting new changes! We would like to
welcome back Tania, Kathryn and John who spent 3 weeks training at The Independence Centre
in St.Louis. The guys have come back with some great ideas on how to improve our clubhouse,
which we are implementing into our work order day.

We are now going to have a media/promotions afternoon every Wednesday at 1.30 pm. This is
a fantastic opportunity to get involved in a wide range of new tasks such as multimedia, video
editing, networking, interviews and a whole heap more. Come in and give us your input to shape
the future of Stepping Stone Clubhouse.

It is still business as usual and we have embraced our new unit tasks with much enthusiasm!
Our new tasks include: checking the toll account, recording logbook information, payment of
bills, managing Facebook, matching invoices and receipts. Please feel free to pop in and join
our unit. We would love to see you soon!!!

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 11

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Meet and Greet Update

By Nicola
There are changes abreast for the Meet & Greet Team– we’ve been on a hiatus
from hospital visits as a chance to regroup, restructure & refocus on our goals. As
it happens, the colleagues who just returned from ICCD training bought with them
an action plan that incorporates the goals of the Meet & Greet Team.

The Clubhouse plan included a focus on promotional activities, media use and
speaking opportunities. An all-new Wednesday afternoon has been developed in the
C.A.T. unit to address these aims. Every Wednesday afternoon in C.A.T. Unit we will
focus on managing the website, developing a ’video lab’, Meet & Greet activities,
promotional endeavors to foster a network of community contacts (’friends of
Stepping Stone’) and facilitate a speakers bureau. We intend to address these goals
inside the Clubhouse, in the mental health area and in the broader community.

The Meet & Greet Team will now be able to continue it’s fantastic outreach work
(in hospitals, at community events, during tours/orientation and during the new
member process) with the support of the of the C.A.T. Unit every Wednesday
afternoon. This gives the Team plenty of time to do all their work & an opportunity
to get new people involved.

Coorparoo Community Garden

By Sophie

This project is proudly funded by a grant from Brisbane City Council. Stepping
Stone Clubhouse, in partnership with the Coorparoo Uniting Church, now has a
community garden.
The garden is situated just up the road from the Clubhouse, where we grow a
variety of organic vegetables and fruit.
Every week we attend to the gardens so come join us if you’re interested in
learning or sharing your experience about ORGANIC gardening. Beat the heat by
coming along to Clubhouse any Tuesday or Thursday morning at 9.30 am.

Page 12 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

May Birthdays
Community Information:
Wishing everyone a very Free Tax Help
happy birthday from Tax Help is a network of community
volunteers who provide a free and
Stepping Stone confidential service to help people complete
their tax returns at tax time. These volunteers
are people from within the community who
Jamie H. Vaughan B.
give up their time each year. They are not
Shaun D. Eric L. Australian Taxation Office (ATO) staff, but
they receive training and support from the
Max W. Natasha K. ATO.
The following table will help you determine
Andrew H. Luke R. if you are eligible for Tax Help.
Andrew M. Mark B.
If you are … and your taxable income is
Ariel E. Chris W. …
a single person $40,000 or less.
Ron C. Georgie H.
married or de $40,000 or less plus $2,500
Michelle G. Bianca S. facto for each child.
a single parent $40,000 or less plus $2,500
Chris K. Paul L. for each child.
Esam B. Christopher D. Once you have determined that you are
eligible for the Tax Help program and want to
Joseph G. Jacquie R.
make an appointment please phone 13 28 61.
Metha M. James D. Tax Help is only available July to October
each year.

If you want more information you can visit the

web page –
Donations to Stepping Stone http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/
We would like to acknowledge and content.asp?doc=/content/9172.htm
thank the following people for their
kind donations and ongoing support
of Stepping Stone Clubhouse. Don’t forget Stepping Stone has a Facebook page
DBM Consultants www.facebook.com.
Keep connected with all the latest news and events! Sim-
Thanks to all who have contributed to ply search Stepping Stone Clubhouse in Facebook and invite
us to be your friend!
the making of this most awesome,
extremely wonderful newsletter:
Nicola, Rick, Cheryl, Tom, Prue, Brad,
Christian, Noel, Michelle, Andrew &
Danny

Apologies if your name has been forgotten!

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 13

Steppin’ Out– May 2011

Housing Profile Interview – Cheryl D

By Housing Unit

When did you first come to Clubhouse?
December 2010
Where did you live before you came to Step-
ping Stone
Clubhouse?
Forest Lake, I was boarding with family
Did Stepping Stone Clubhouse help with your
Housing?
I applied to DOH before I came to the club
house after being in hospital for 3 weeks. I
had also worked with 4walls and so my appli-
cation was also picked up by them and they
did assist me in finding my current unit. But I
was also put on the Stepping Stone Clubhouse
wait list that is sent to 4walls, so everything
helped.
Do you have any tips for anyone applying for
housing?
Yes always have more paperwork than you
need like support letters from doctors, proof
of rent paid, and ID and change of name.
What would your dream house be?
Air Conditioned.
What is the best thing about moving into
your own place?
I can eat what I want. Someone else did all
the cooking before.
What do you think the challenges will be in
your new place?
Loneliness and keeping busy. I think Stepping
Stone might be my Life Saver at the moment.

What are some of the barriers that you

faced in trying to get housing?
I felt that it was difficult financially and also
personally in just making a decision about liv-
ing alone again or staying with family. Living
alone has both positive and negative aspects.
I feel Stepping Stone Clubhouse will help sup-
port me now that I am in a DOH unit.

Do you find the staff in the housing unit

helpful when you applied for housing? If not,
what could they do to be more helpful?
Everyone was very helpful. It was nice to
have someone to assist with dealing with deci-
sions. They offered me all the support that I
needed.

How has the application process been for

you?
Traumatic, dealing with DOH is not easy but
everyone has the same problems. Every time I
went to Department of Housing they seemed
to want more information. So much paper
work.

Page 14 The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse

 Steppin’ Out– May 2011

The Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc. Page 15

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Steppin’ Out– May 2011
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Mail: PO Box 249 Coorparoo Qld 4151
Phone: (07) 3847 1058
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Email: clerical@steppingstoneclubhouse.org.au
Website: www.steppingstoneclubhouse.org.au

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Stepping Stone Clubhouse is funded by:
Disability Services Queensland (DSQ)
the Department of Employment, Education & Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and
The Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA).

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Newsletter of Stepping Stone Clubhouse