About us
Steady ground, for every young person, everywhere.
Steady Ground Global brings research, practical tools and advocacy together to strengthen the relationships that help young people thrive. We start with relationships because they are among the strongest protectors of young people’s mental health, and an early signal of when a young person needs more support. Measuring them well is the foundation for understanding the whole child.
Our name
Why “Steady Ground”?
Steady is the stability and safety young people need to grow: reliable relationships with family, friends, school and community.
Ground is the foundation we build now, from which everything else grows.
Global because we began across Australia and Uganda, and because young people everywhere deserve steady ground.
Our intention
What we’re here to do
Measure what matters
Establish which aspects of relational connection should be measured for young people, for which purposes, and at what age: the foundation for understanding the whole child and the support they need.
Build tools that help
Turn that evidence into Steady Start, a practical tool that helps young people, families and educators strengthen connection and get the right support at the right time, validated and governed for each age group before it is offered.
Change systems
Advocate locally and globally so young people’s connection and wellbeing are measured, funded and prioritised in policy and practice.
Our founders
Who we are
We met through the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health executive program in Mental Health Leadership. Coming from Australia and Uganda, we share a commitment to improving young people’s mental health.
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Emily Chapple
Co-founder · Australia
Emily works at the intersection of health strategy, policy and social impact, with a focus on mental health, brain health and health equity. She has led national strategy work in Australia and is an alumna of Harvard’s Mental Health Leadership program.
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Julian Kembabazi
Co-founder · Uganda
Julian is a youth mental health advocate based in Uganda, bringing deep experience in youth-led advocacy across Africa and a commitment to putting young people’s voices at the centre of the work. She is an alumnus of Harvard’s Mental Health Leadership program.
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Want to be part of it?
We work with researchers, funders, youth organisations and governments.
Steady Ground Global
Investing in young people’s connections, for now and the future.
© 2026 Steady Ground Global