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In recognition of the deep history and culture of this Island Lutrawita, Richmond Futures would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to all Tasmanian Aboriginal people and acknowledge our respect for their culture and identity which has been bound up with the Land, Waterways and Sky for generations. We would also like to pay our respects to Elders, past and present for they hold the memories, knowledge, culture and hopes of Aboriginal Tasmania.

Richmond Futures is committed to continuously building an inclusive and safe organisational culture, where people can bring their whole (authentic and true) self. Diverse experiences, ways of knowing, thinking and working styles are valued, encouraged and respected because we recognise that expertise and knowledge comes in various forms. We work in solidarity with one another to create a workplace where everybody can belong, connect and succeed in their role. We do this by courageously sharing our different perspectives, radically listening, being open to reflection and change, and learning from each other.

Our Heritage

Our origins link back to Richmond Fellowship in the UK, founded by Elly Jansen in 1959. Elly Jansen, OBE (Order of the British Empire), is a Dutch-born pioneer in the creation and development of therapeutic communities. She has spent most of her life working in England, where she founded the Richmond Fellowship halfway house in 1959. Since then, Elly established Richmond Fellowship International and developed a network of community mental health facilities across the world, including in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, France, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, and the Americas.

As an experienced social worker and trained nurse, Elly Jansen recognised the need for a new model of care and treatment, independent of mental hospitals and other traditional service institutions. She advocates for a holistic psychosocial approach, aiming to eliminate the historical isolation of individuals with mental ill-health and adjustment problems.

Life Members

Our heritage as Richmond Fellowship Tasmania (RFT) has come from the incredible contributions of many dedicated individuals who offered their time, skills and passion to support those in the community who were in need.

Our loyal Board Members provided their time on a volunteer basis and, many went above and beyond.

Life Membership is the highest acknowledgement in our organisation where we recognise the exceptional contribution of a Board Member and is generally presented after they have rendered distinguished or special service.

It is awarded in exceptional circumstances and has been conferred on five of our retired Board members. Their commitment and contribution over many decades are sincerely appreciated.

(From left to right: Rita Meany, Marie Murray-Arthur, Paul Ingram, Joyce Bissland, Ian Munday)

Our History

Established in Tasmania in 1984, Richmond Fellowship Tasmania opened with a focus on mental health rehabilitation service as part of a global therapeutic community.

  • 1959

    The Richmond Fellowship was founded in England by Elly Jansen. The aim was to provide a model of residential community care for those suffering from mental or emotional disturbance and to promote public awareness of the issue.

  • 1981

    Elly Jansen’s first visit to Tasmania.

  • 1984

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania is established.

  • 1986

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Lindisfarne, located at Gordons Hill Road opens. This was the first service in Australia that provided a therapeutic community for people with a history of mental illness to be funded under the Disability Services Act.

  • 1993

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Launceston, located at Frankland Street opens.

  • 1997

    Elly Jansen’s second visit to Tasmania.

  • 2002

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Launceston transitions to a new site located at Mowbray, creating a new service mode through eight one-bedroom individual units.

  • 2003

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Rokeby opens, supporting 10 participants in individual unit accommodation.

  • 2005

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania commencing providing Mental Health Supports in an outreach capacity across the North West Coast.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Glenorchy opens supporting 12 participants in individual unit accommodation.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Mowbray and Lindisfarne move to providing services on a 24/7 basis.

  • 2006

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Ulverstone opens supporting 14 participants in individual unit accommodation.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Rokeby increased its capacity to support 12 participants.

  • 2010

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania hosts the International Mental Health Conference in Hobart.

  • 2012

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Lindisfarne closes with participants transitioning to other Richmond Fellowship Tasmania programs.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Campbell Street, Hobart opens.

    The Connect-In Centre, Patrick Street transitions from Colony 47 to Richmond Fellowship Tasmania creating a drop-in centre for Tasmanians experiencing homelessness.

  • 2014

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania is a consortium member to the establishment of Partners in Recovery across Tasmania.

  • 2016

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Moonah opened providing support to seven residents previously residing at Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Campbell Street which closed the same year.

    Marie Murray Arthur is awarded Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Life Member, recognising over 20 years of service to the organisation.

  • 2017

    An employee exchange occurs between Richmond Fellowship Hong Kong and Richmond Fellowship Tasmania.

  • 2018

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania establishes Richmond Futures, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to deliver NDIS services.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania establishes Richmond Investments Tasmania to provide accommodation to NFP providers supporting people with a mental health diagnosis.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania commences delivery of its first clinical program, the Mental Health Nurse Program across Southern Tasmania.

    Paul Ingram is awarded Life Member, recognising over 20 years of service to the organisation.

    Richmond Futures commences the provision of NDIS Support Coordination, including Specialist Support Coordination statewide.

  • 2019

    Richmond Futures opens its first supported independent living home, Murray Arthur House, becoming home to four NDIS participants.

    Richmond Futures opens its second supported independent living home, Ingram House, becoming home to five NDIS participants.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Moonah transitions to Richmond Futures as a supported independent living home, Jansen House, becoming home to six NDIS participants.

    The Partners in Recovery program finishes in recognition of the full rollout of the NDIS.

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania commences delivering its second clinical program, AgeWise.

    Joyce Bissland is awarded Life Membership, recognising over 20 years of service to Richmond Fellowship Tasmania.

  • 2020

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Glenorchy transitions to Richmond Futures as a supported independent living site, kuntana liprini, meaning Grounding Place in Palawa, the language of the Tasmanian Aborigines.

    Richmond Futures commences providing the Exceptionally Complex Support Needs (ECSN) program to provide resources and mental health guidance to the NDIS sector across Tasmania.

    Richmond Futures commences providing Recovery Coaching statewide.

  • 2021

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania Mowbray transitions to Richmond Futures as a supported independent living property, Bissland Place, becoming home to eight participants.

    Richmond Futures opens its sixth supported independent living property, liprini nayri, meaning place of wellness in Palawa, the language of the Tasmanian Aborigines.

  • 2022

    Richmond Futures opens its seventh supported independent living property, Munday Place, becoming home to six participants.

  • 2023

    Construction starts for Glenson Place, the first purpose-built independent living site supporting NDIS participants with psychosocial disability in the Tasmanian community.

    Construction starts for Bellette Place, providing much needed accommodation for Tasmanians requiring mental health support.

  • 2024

    Richmond Fellowship Tasmania, Richmond Futures and Richmond Investments Tasmania merge, bringing all services under one organisation.

    Richmond Futures new brand is launched.

    Purpose-built independent living site Glenson Place opens, becoming home to 14 participants.