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 with heart disease, by sharing experiences and education one another 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.
Please see below the list of our current peer support group locations across Australia.
Australian Capital Territory
Our Canberra Peer Support Group is led by Bob Stirling.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 1pm in 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.
Please contact Alan on 0439 430 638 or email alan.warwick@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Goulburn Peer Support Group is led by Alex Oliver.
These meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 2pm at The Goulburn Workers Club.
Please contact Alex on 0439 430 638 or email alexoliver50@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Illawarra Peer Support Group is led by Tracey Smith.
These meetings are held on the 1st Monday of every month at 1pm at 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.
Our Moruya Peer Support Group is led by Di Fee.
These meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 10:30am at 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.
Our Narooma Peer Support Group is led by Dan Field.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 2pm at Club Narooma.
Please contact Dan on 02 4473 7055 or email him at danfield57@skymesh.com.au 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
Our Pambula Peer Support Group is led by Andrew Niblett.
These meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 2pm at the Pambula Community Health Centre.
Please contact Andrew on 0497 442 936 or email andymandeni@hotmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Queanbeyan Peer Support Group is led by John Askew.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 10am at the Jerrabomberra Community Centre.
Please contact John on 0400 049 729 or email john.askew@live.com.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Wagga Peer Support Group is led by Jacquiline Shermil and Amanda Haworth.
Please contact Jacquiline on 0427 490 718 or email jacquiline.shermil@health.nsw.gov.au or Amanda on 0407 001 792 or email amanda.haworth@calvarycare.org.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Northern Territory
Heart Support Australia is proud to be launching our inauguarl Peer Support Group in Alice Springs in February 2024.
Our Alice Springs Peer Support Group is led my Matt Skoss.
For information to attend our inaugural group meeting in February 2024 please contact Matt on 0418 624 631 or email matt.skoss@gmail.com
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
Queensland
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 Caboolture Peer Support Group is led by Cecil Nielson
Please contact Cecil on 0427 990 223 or via email caboolture@heartnet.org.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Clermont Peer Support Group is led by Claudia Stephson.
These meetings are held on the last Saturday of every month at 9:30am at 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.
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 Mossman Peer Support Group is led by Tim Amos.
These meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 1pm at the Mossman RSL Hall, 28 Johnson Road, Mossman.
Please contact Tim on 0466 718 752 or email timarj@exemail.com.au 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
Our Sunshine Coast Peer Support Group is led by Tracey Nunan.
These meetings are held from 10am on the 2nd Monday of every month in 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.
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
South Australia
Our Adelaide (Southern Suburbs) Peer Support Group is led by Tony Colhoun.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at Cooinda Neighbourhood Centre, Sturt.
Please contact Tony on 0439 935 060 or email cirdan1952@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Barossa Valley Peer Support Group is led by Clayton Bester.
These meetings are held on the 1st Monday of the month at 6pm at 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.
Our Berri Peer Support Group is led by John Krause.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month at 9:30am at The Pavilion in Berri.
Please contact John on 0414 450 224 or email john@johnkrause.com.au 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
Our Pt Lincoln Peer Support Group is led by Alyssia Smith.
These meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 2pm at the Port Lincoln Library.
Please contact Alyssia on 08 7669 1032 or email Alyssia.Smith@sa.gov.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Victor Harbor Peer Support Group is led by Harry Glynn and Michael Koch.
These meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 10am in the Assemby 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
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 North West Tasmania Peer Support Group is led by Sharron Yaxley.
These meetings are held of the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1pm at the Montgomery Room, Carpark Lane in Ulverstone (Central Coast Council).
For further information or to attend the session please contact Sharron via email sharron.yaxley@stategrowth.tas.gov.au or call 0419 876 143
Victoria
Our Geelong Peer Support Group is led by Murray Chenery.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 10am at 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.
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 Warrnambool Peer Support Group is led by Kate McLaren.
These meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 4pm at 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.
Our Wonthaggi Peer Support Group is led by John Carter.
These meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 10am at the 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
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 Broome Peer Support Group is led by Fiona Aamodt.
These meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 9am at Broome Circle in the Meeting Room.
For further information or to attend the next session please contact us via email office@heartnet.org.au or call 02 6253 0097.
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 Perth Peer Support Group is led by Fay.
These meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month from 6pm to 7pm at the Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1-3 Hill View Place, Bentley.
For further information or to attend the next session please contact Fay via email faybee66@yahoo.com.au or call our office on
(02) 6253 0097.
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.
