Storm Hassett is a queer, neurodivergent, Indigenous leader and the passion behind both The Identity Clinic and Chrome Health. From growing up in foster care to building one of Australia’s most inclusive mental health services, her journey is one of grit, heartbreak, and fierce determination.
Motivated and inspired by her own lived experience and resilience, she has been driven to create real change.
From Lived Experience to Shared Purpose
Storm’s early life was marked by instability in foster care. She remembers vividly the day she told case workers she was scared and didn’t want to be there. Only for them to leave her behind.
“That moment showed me that no one was coming to save me. You can only really rely on yourself.”
The fear and trauma of those years did not break her, but instead they became her driving force. Storm carries a deep understanding of what it means to feel unseen, unheard, and unsafe – and she channels that experience into meaningful change.
This became her WHY.
She set out to create a space where people facing mental health challenges would never feel as alone or unsupported as she once did.
Her mission: to ensure that every person, whether neurodivergent, queer, Indigenous, or living with trauma, can access care without fear of judgment.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
In 2019, Storm survived a severe car collision with a drunk driver who left the scene. She remembers the moment with certainty:
“I was sure I was going to die. My life flashed before my eyes. When I woke up the next day, I knew I was still here for a reason. There was work left to do. It was the turning point that solidified my mission.”
From there on, Storm took her pain, built resilience and transformed it into purpose. That purpose was to break stigma, build equity, and empower people to take control of their wellbeing.
Sharing Her Story
Storm recently joined Rachel Carey on the What Are We Drinking? podcast for a raw and unfiltered conversation.
At its core, the conversation spoke to the intersection of trauma and resilience, and how lived experience can shape the way we build values-driven NDIS businesses. Storm and Rachel explored the contrasts between Australian and US healthcare systems, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities in each and walked through what it truly takes to scale inclusive mental health services, ensuring they remain accessible, sustainable, and centred on the people they are designed to support.
Listen to the story HERE
Storm’s journey is more than her personal story; it’s a mirror of the struggles faced by many. Her lived experience and choice to share her vulnerability and learnings, gives her true insight into what’s missing in traditional healthcare, and the determination to build something better.
“No one should ever feel unseen or overlooked in the very systems created to support them. My purpose is to create services where every person feels safe, respected, and truly empowered to live life on their own terms.”
Storm’s belief in blending experience with purpose-led leadership means that she doesn’t just talk about inclusion, because she lives it.
