History of Jacaranda Clubhouse
Fountain House was the first “clubhouse,” started more than fifty years ago and has been replicated more than four hundred times around the world, the Clubhouse concept is still a radical way of working in the field of community mental health. Most program models still focus on assessing a person’s level of disability and limiting the expectations based on that ass
essment. In Clubhouse the expectations are high and mutual work, mutual relationships, and meaningful opportunities in the community are the vehicles of choice. This is the same ethos that Jacaranda Clubhouse works by daily. Jacaranda Clubhouse became incorporated in 1999 and has grown from strength to strength since then with the support of the Management committee which has the overall responsibility for the governance of Clubhouse to ensure consistency with its mission and purpose under the International Clubhouse Model. The responsibilities include financial security, legal compliance, advocacy, quality premises and employment development. Through their broad experience in a wide spectrum of the business and general communities, members of the Management Committee provide guidance, advice and support to the Executive Director. Jacaranda Clubhouse is centrally located within the Ipswich CBD making accessibility easier and also brings Clubhouse closer to the Community they work with. Clubhouse Australia is our local coalition of Clubhouses where Member Clubhouses work toward a national Clubhouse Development
