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.
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 Batemans Bay Peer Support Group is led by Anthony O’Shea.
Please contact Heart Support Australia on 02 6253 0097 or email us at office@heartnet.org.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 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.
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.
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 Dianne Fee.
Please contact Heart Support Australia on 02 6253 0097 or email us at office@heartnet.org.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Narooma Peer Support Group is led by David White.
Please contact Heart Support Australia on 02 6253 0097 or email us at office@heartnet.org.au for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Pambula Peer Support Group is led by Andrew Niblett.
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.
Please contact John on 0400 049 729 or email john.askew@live.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
Northern Territory
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
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 Steve Dunchouk.
Please contact Steve on 0478 613 417 or email caboolutre@heartnet.org.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
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 Maryborough Peer Support Group is led by Brad Shultz.
Please contact Brad on 0438 024 660 or email bradshultz65@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
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
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
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 Barossa Valley Peer Support Group is led by Brenton Colmer.
Please contact Brenton on 0429 188 430 or email bkc2310@gmail.com for further information or to attend the next session.
Our Berri Peer Support Group is led by John Krause.
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 Mt Barker Peer Support Group is led by Lesley How.
Please contact Lesley on 0413 755 726 or email kookija@internode.on.net 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
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 Victor Harbor Peer Support Group is led by Harry Glynn and Michael Koch.
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
Victoria
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
Heart Support Australia is currently working with the local community to relaunch our peer support group in the area.
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
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
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 Dave McAndrew.
Please contact Dave on 08 9343 2947 or email davemcan@bigpond.net.au for further information or to attend the next session.
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.
Make a donation and...
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.
