Sometimes, just a small act of kindness or gesture of goodwill is all it takes to help someone living with mental illness.
Such is the philosophy behind Keith’s Closet – an initiative founded in 2019 by former Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Keith Donnelly, who was working at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District at the time.
After raiding his own closet and his wife’s on countless occasions to donate clothes to inpatients, he came up with the idea of converting an unused room in the mental health unit of the hospital he was working at into a walk-in wardrobe.
And so began Keith’s Closet, a not-for-profit charity that supports members of the community accessing mental health services, by offering a wardrobe stocked full of clothing, toiletries, footwear and other accessories to choose from.
Sourced through donations, these goods are available to people on admission or discharge from a mental health facility, so they can embrace their reintegration and thrive in society.
The initiative has gained momentum, with the latest Keith’s Closet officially opened at Lismore’s Mental Health Service by Minister for Health Ryan Park, Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson and Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin on Tuesday 29 July 2025.
“During my time as a student and qualified mental health nurse, I recognised that mental health consumers accessing our services often arrived at hospital with just the clothes on their backs and limited access to alternative clothing, toiletries and accessories,” Keith said.
“This is about swapping the traditional hospital white gown for good quality clothing and accessories, helping to reduce stigma and boost morale and wellbeing.
“It’s exciting to see Keith’s Closet grow and now benefit patients in the Lismore area.
“It’s also really important to acknowledge Keith’s Closet would not be the success it is without the amazing support of our volunteers, our sponsors and the wider community.”
Northern NSW Local Health District Director Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Services Dee Robinson thanked everyone who helped to bring Keith’s Closet to life in Lismore.
“We are extremely privileged to have been selected as the sixth location for a Keith’s Closet in the state – and the first outside of Sydney and the Illawarra,” Dee said.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Keith and his team, whose vision and drive are truly infectious.
“I’d also like to thank all the volunteers who helped with establishing Keith’s Closet here in Lismore, particularly the team from Bennett Constructions who showed up en masse to help build the closet in record time.
“Our thanks also go to our own maintenance team at Lismore Base Hospital who did all the prep work to make it happen in record time.”
To find out more about Keith’s Closet.
Keith Donnelly viewing the "closet" before the official opening.
Ryan Cooke and Jack Bensley from Lismore project management company Bennett Constructions volunteered their time to help build Keith’s Closet.
Some of the Keith's Closet team, Keith and Grace Wilson.
Keith with his support crew Joe O’Donovan and Ian Rogers, during construction of Keith’s Closet. The door was kindly made by the maintenance team at Lismore Base Hospital.
Staff from Lismore Mental Health Service joined in the celebrations to officially open Keith’s Closet, alongside dignitaries including Keith, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson and Minister for Health Ryan Park.
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg (far right) dropped in to check out the set-up of Keith’s Closet alongside representatives from Bennett Constructions and Keith’s team.
Pictured above:
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin cuts the ribbon to officially open Keith’s Closet at Lismore Mental Health Service. She is joined by Keith Donnelly, Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson and Minister for Health Ryan Park.