As Mental Health Month continues throughout October – highlighting the importance of awareness, advocacy, and systemic change – two trailblazers at Northern Health are making a profound impact in the ever-evolving landscape of mental health and housing support. Cassie MacAlpine and Meghan Burkett, both deeply committed social workers, are leading the charge in transforming how individuals navigate housing pathways—bringing compassion and advocacy to a system often described as complex and under-resourced.

For mental health consumers, accessing and maintaining secure housing is the foundation for recovery. Yet this critical need is often met with significant barriers, with many individuals experiencing homelessness or facing the risk of it. Cassie and Meghan’s work directly address these challenges, helping to build safer, more stable futures for those most vulnerable.

Cassie MacAlpine stepped into the newly created role of Housing Pathways Coordinator in October 2024, bringing with her 25 years of frontline experience in mental health, housing, and homelessness. Her career spans community and public housing, crisis assessment, outreach, inpatient and hospital social work, and case management.

“Housing and homelessness have been such a large part of my working career,” Cassie shares. “I feel very fortunate to assist clinicians and consumers in navigating this space, and to work with regional partners to advocate for those without a safe and secure place to live.”

Joining Cassie in July 2025, Meghan Burkett took on the role of Housing Pathways Clinician. Her journey began at Northern Health through the Mental Health Early Careers Program, followed by work at Neami National. There, she provided integrated mental health and housing case management, always keeping the individual’s goals at the heart of her practice.

“I absolutely love working at the intersection of mental health and housing,” Meghan says. “The system can be complex, but there’s nothing more rewarding than supporting someone in achieving their housing goals.”

Meghan’s return to Northern Health marks a full-circle moment, bringing her expertise and passion back to where it all began.

Together, Cassie and Meghan offer a comprehensive support system across Northern Health’s Mental Health division. Their work includes:

• Guidance on general housing options and homelessness services
• Assistance with Victorian Housing Register (VHR) applications
• Access to Housing Establishment Funds (HEF), PRAP, and Bond Loans
• Crisis accommodation and rooming house referrals
• Budgeting for private rentals and sourcing financial aid for essentials
• Legal support around tenancy breaches and VCAT matters
• Advocacy and connection to legal and housing information services

Their collaboration is more than a job—it’s a lifeline for many. By demystifying housing systems and advocating fiercely for those in need, Cassie and Meghan are reshaping what it means to provide holistic, person-centered care. Their collaboration is more than a job—it’s a lifeline for many. By demystifying housing systems and advocating fiercely for those in need, Cassie and Meghan are reshaping what it means to provide holistic, person-centered care.

With leaders like Cassie MacAlpine and Meghan Burkett at the helm, the future looks a little brighter for those seeking a place to call home.