Steve Hackett

Introducing Steve

Steve Hackett is an accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in the community services sector. He has successfully managed programs, guided staff, and served on the boards of a dozen organisations supporting diverse groups, including youth, families, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, LGBTIQAP+, and multicultural communities. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and fostering meaningful change.

Career

Steve is a co-facilitator of Shemewé Collective online Parent Time Group and a specialist men’s work coach and mentor within the We Belong EAP program. In these roles, he provides compassionate support and facilitates environments where participants can navigate complex relationships and personal challenges. Steve’s work is grounded in emotional intelligence, practical guidance, and an ability to create safe, non-judgmental spaces for growth and transformation.

Experience

Steve’s career highlights include managing the Youth at Promise Program for multicultural young people at risk with the Multicultural Families Organisation (MFO) and leading multi-disciplinary teams as Clinical Services Manager at Lives Lived Well / Headspace during the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a pivotal role in developing telehealth services and establishing a new Headspace Center. As Executive Director of Family Relationship Services Australia, Steve expanded strategic partnerships, advocated for policy change, and represented the sector at the Federal Government level. His work has consistently focused on integrating services into local communities to ensure timely and equitable access for those in need.

Profession

A certified partnership broker and trained counsellor, Steve’s approach combines emotional maturity with holistic and embodied practices. Through one-on-one mentoring and group work, he helps men connect with their emotions, navigate vulnerabilities, and build self-awareness and self-responsibility. Known for his ability to hold space and ask thoughtful, compassionate questions, Steve inspires individuals to access their innate capacity for growth, leading to greater personal and professional success.

Excellence

Steve brings his wealth of experience, deep expertise in facilitation, and leadership to Shemewé Collective. His unwavering dedication, inclusive and empathetic approach, and ability to connect authentically with individuals and groups makes him an integral member of Shemewé Collective’s mission to empower, foster transformation, and drive lasting impact.

Fun Fact

Steve has a unique talent for phantom race-calling—a playful and theatrical art form where he announces imaginary horse races using creative names. While working in the family and relationship sector, he turned sector acronyms into race 'horses', much to the delight of conference audiences. He’s also brought the laughs to a big family Christmas lunch, calling a race with relatives' names, and even stole the show at a singer-songwriter event called Club Dave (named after a goldfish!), where his spontaneous performance won him first prize—outshining the actual musicians.