Peer Support
Peer Support is the essence of our organisation. We believe that peer support encourages self-management and can improve people’s wellbeing, meaning they have better self-esteem, increased confidence, larger support networks and fewer hospital stays.
For a person who has undergone a heart event, talking with someone who has been through the same or similar circumstances makes it much easier to express their feelings and concerns. Listening to that person helps to break down the feeling of loneliness and isolation. It can help them come to terms with the loss, grief and changes resulting from their illness.
Patients with heart disease are unfortunately left on their own after their new diagnosis, surgery and cardiac rehabilitation, with no real long-term service available to help support a patient without going back to see their GP or Cardiologist. This is where peer support comes in. Peer support is the new era of managing heart disease by educating, supporting and empowering an individual to have the ability to manage their own condition for the long-term.
Peer Support offers a sense belonging and support to patients and their carers with heart disease, by sharing personal experiences and receiving some education to ensure they can manage their heart condition the best so they don’t end up back in hospital or worsen in their physical and mental health.
Our peer support is available for as long as you need it and is completely free to ensure our patients stay healthy and on the right path to a healthier and better life. Our groups have a dedicated education session at each of the sessions, with various professional invited speakers also in attendance to provide further advice and support to our patients to manage their condition.
Our peer support groups meet monthly from February to November – please see below the list of our current peer support group locations across Australia.
Australian Capital Territory
Peer Support Group Leader: Bob Stirling
When: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1pm
Where: Corinna Room 4 at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden.
Please contact Bob on 0420 936 175 or email rvstirling@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
New South Wales
Our Dubbo Peer Support Group is led by Alan Warwick and enjoys river walks on Tuesdays & Thursdays followed by a peer support session.
Please contact Alan on 0439 430 638 or email alan.warwick@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Alex Oliver
When: 4th Tuesday of the month at 2pm
Where: The Goulburn Workers Club
Please contact Alex on 0419 629 269 or email alexoliver50@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Tracey Smith
When: 1st Monday of the month at 1pm
Where: The Dapto Citizens Bowling Club
Please contact Tracey on 0411 487 955 or email tajacko@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Di Fee
When: 2nd Thursday of the month at 10:30am
Where: The Moruya Golf Club
Please contact Di on 0417 327 625 or at diannefee@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Heart Support Australia is currently working with the local community to open a peer support group.
If you are interested in attending or becoming a Peer Support Group Leader please contact us on 02 6253 0097 or send an email to office@heartnet.org.au
Northern Territory
Peer Support Group Leader: Matt Skoss
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month at 4pm
Where: The 50 Plus Community Centre (entry via the Anzac Hill Oval carpark)
To register your RSVP to attend, please click here. For further information about the Alice Springs Peer Support Group, please contact Matt on 0418 624 631 or email matt.skoss@gmail.com
Queensland
Peer Support Group Leader: Jan Findlay
When: Every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10.15am to 11.45am
Where: The Mount Ommaney Library Meeting Room, 171 Dandenong Road, Mt Ommaney
Please contact Jan on 0412 457 962 or via email jazzyjan99@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Cassie O’Brien
When: 2nd Saturday of the month at 10am
Where: The Bronze Room, Sports Central Caboolture, on the corner of Hasking Street and Beerburrum Road.
Please contact Cassie on 0416 688 452 or via email Cassieobrien@outlook.com.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Claudia Stephson
When: Last Saturday of the month at 9:30am
Where: The Railway Station
Please contact Claudia on 0437 156 585 or email claudia.stephson@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Heart Support Australia is currently working with the local community to open a peer support group.
We will announce shortly the details of this group. In the meantime if you have any questions at all please contact us on 02 6253 0097 or send an email to office@heartnet.org.au
Peer Support Group Leader: Tim Amos
When: 1st Wednesday of the month at 1pm
Where: The Meeting Room, Mossman Memorial Bowls Club, 6-8 Johnston Road, Mossman
Please contact Tim on 0466 718 752 or email timarj@exemail.com.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Volunteer Position Available
If you have been impacted by heart disease and would like to assist Tim as a Co-Peer Support Group Leader, then we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at office@heartnet.org.au for more information and to apply.
Peer Support Group Leader: Tracey Nunan
When: 2nd Monday of the month at 10am
Where: Meeting Room 1 of Millwell Road Community Centre, Maroochydore
Please contact Tracey on 0439 167 313 or email traceynhsa@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Ann Wagner
When: First Wednesday of the month at 10.30am
Where: Cardiac Rehab Room, Kirwan Health Campus, 138 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan
For more information or to register to attend each session, please contact Ann on 0488 735 610 or email wagnerann50@gmail.com
South Australia
Peer Support Group Leader: Donna Ferretti
When: 2nd Friday of the month at 1pm
Where: Thebarton Community Centre (next to Brickworks).
For more information or to register to attend each session please contact Donna on 0416 142 738 or email donnaferretti@bigpond.com.au
Peer Support Group Leader: Clayton Bester
When: 1st Monday of the month at 6pm
Where:: The CWA Hall in Tanunda (70 Murray St)
Please contact Clayton on 0402 357 102 or email clayton.etta@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Greg Williams
When: 4th Wednesday of the month at 2pm
Where: The Port Lincoln Library
Please contact Greg on 0476 523 798 or email greg@lcc.com.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: John Krause
When: 3rd Monday of the month from 9:30 to 11.30am
Where: Loxton Business Hub, Loxton
Please contact John on 0414 450 224 or john@johnkrause.com.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leaders: Harry Glynn and Michael Koch.
When: 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am
Where: The Assembly Room at Carrickalinga House
Please contact either Harry on 0408 895 060 or email theglynns3@bigpond.com or contact Michael on 0418 845 112 or email m.mkoch@bigpond.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Tasmania
Heart Support Australia is currently working with the local community to open a peer support group.
If you are interested in attending or becoming a Peer Support Group Leader please contact us on 02 6253 0097 or send an email to office@heartnet.org.au
Peer Support Group Leader: Sharron Yaxley
When: 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: The Montgomery Room, Carpark Lane in Ulverstone (Central Coast Council)
Please contact Sharron via email sharron.yaxley@stategrowth.tas.gov.au or call 0419 876 143 for further information or to attend the next session.
Victoria
Peer Support Group Leader: Murray Chenery
When: 3rd Thursday of the month from 10am
Where: Scotts Chartered Accountants, Sladen House, 410 Pakington Street, Newtown (parking off Rutland St)
Please contact Murray on 0408 598 180 or email murray.chenery57@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: Kate McLaren
When: 1st Tuesday of the month at 4pm
Where: The Warrnambool Library & Learning Centre
Please contact Kate on 03 5563 4000 or via email at KMcLaren@swh.net.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Peer Support Group Leader: John Carter
When: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10am
Where: Wonthaggi Senior Citizens Centre
Please contact John on 0408 556 061 or email john.carter48@bigpond.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Western Australia
Peer Support Group Leader: Fay
When: 3rd Thursday of the month from 6pm to 7pm
Where: The Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1-3 Hill View Place, Bentley
To attend the next session, please click here to register via Eventbrite.
For further information please contact Fay via email faybee66@yahoo.com.au or call our office on (02) 6253 0097.
Heart Support Australia is currently looking for a new peer support group leader to lead this local group.
If you are interested in being a peer support group leader or would like more information about our work in Broome please contact Heart Support Australia on 02 6253 0097 or via email at office@heartnet.org.au
Heart Support Australia is currently working with the local community to open a peer support group.
If you are interested in attending or becoming a Peer Support Group Leader please contact us on 02 6253 0097 or send an email to office@heartnet.org.au
Our Midland Peer Support Group is led by Gane Doyle and enjoys river walks and coffee chats on the first Tuesday of the month and peer support sessions every third Tuesday of the month – see below for the details to attend.
Walk & Talk:
First Tuesday of the month from 10.30am at Woodbridge Riverside Park, Midland
Peer Support Group Sessions:
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10:30am
Where: Midland Scout Hall, 10 Helen Street, Bellevue
For further information please contact Gane via email ganedoyle@westnet.com.au or call 0405 266 861
New Peer Support Groups
We are always looking to create new peer support groups for patients, families and carers who are impacted by heart disease.
Please contact us for more information if you are interested in starting a new group near you.
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Make a heartfelt difference to cardiac survivors.
By donating to Heart Support Australia you can make a heartfelt difference for patients affected by a heart event while also supporting their families, carers and friends as they navigate the frightening journey of a cardiovascular disease diagnosis.
