Peer To Peer Support
Peer Support Groups vary widely from casual get-togethers at cafes, to informal meetings at local community centres, to structured meetings with agendas and office bearers. Some groups invite guest speakers to provide specialist information, some run hobby groups, while others run meditation sessions or go to the movies. Each group is different and is based on the needs and interests of its members, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model.
The groups listed here operate independently from Emerge Australia. We list them to build connections within our community.
New South Wales
Blue Mountains ME/CFS/FM Support Group NSW
Location Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, 9 New Street Lawson
Description The group meets monthly in person on the first Thursday: 12 pm till 2 pm and every third Tuesday via Zoom from 12 pm till 1:30 pm.
No obligation for participants to attend the entire meeting. You need to be a local, or almost local to join our support group. We cover far western Sydney and up to Dubbo as well.
We are supported wonderfully by our neighbourhood centre. They supply a gluten free morning tea and a free room. We also have a Facebook page but only for our locals. We have over 150 members but only between 6 to 12 come to the meeting. We also support west Sydney and west to Dubbo
Contact Belong Blue Mountains – [email protected]
Sydney Invisible Illness/Chronic Health Support Group
Location Glebe and North-West Sydney location
Description Casual chat over coffee / lunch. Majority of group members have ME/CFS/FM.
Contact Russell – [email protected]
Website www.facebook.com/groups/invisible.illness.sydney
Tweed Heads (CFS/ME/FMS Support Group)
Location Tweed Heads
Description We meet on the first Friday of every month except January at 10:30 am in the Activities Room, Home and Community Centre, Cnr Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South. We have a casual get-together every third Friday at 10:30 am at Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads.
We are obliged to charge $5:00 for our first Friday meetings to cover room hire. We have been unable to find free accommodation for our meetings in the area. Tea, coffee and biscuits and a lucky door prize are supplied at no cost. There is a large monitor supplied with the room which we use to show Utube videos relating to me/cfs. Those who are interested usually go for lunch after the meeting.
Contact Bronwyn [email protected]
Wollongong ME/CFS/FM Support Group
Location: Illawarra and surrounding locations
Chat From Home: 4th Saturday of each month 2pm – 3pm
In Person Cafe Clubs:
Wollongong: 2nd Thursday of the month: 11.00am – 12 noon
Kiama 3rd Thursday of the month: 11.00am – 12 noon
Shellharbour: 4th Thursday of the month: 11.00am – 12 noon
Description Supporting people in the Illawarra and surrounding regions with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM), as well as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), long COVID and other related neuroimmune conditions
Contact Co-ordinators: Margie & Deirdre
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0403 356 840
Website: www.mecfsfmwollongong.org
ME/CFS/FM Support Group Newcastle District
Location Newcastle, NSW – https://www.facebook.com/groups/183053372120801
Description Newcastle has a strong local CFS/FM Facebook group with over 150 members. They try to meet a few times a year, however they are a bit short on admins and volunteers to arrange them. Face to face meetings are health (and volunteer) dependent, but the online group response and support is very strong.
Tasmania
Hobart Support Group
Location The Elizabeth Lounge, 29 Elizabeth Street, Hobart CBD
Description We meet last Monday of every second month 10:30 am -12 pm.
We are diverse folks with some shared challenges and experiences with ME/CFS, who welcome you and look forward to meeting you!
Meetup locations may change but are always chosen for the comfort of ME/CFS bodies in this era of COVID-19.
Contact Jenna [email protected]
Western Australia
ME+ Connect Group Perth
Location Facebook, Perth WA https://www.facebook.com/share/PsqX8ELADpm9kdUz/?mibextid=K35XfP
Description – The ME+ Connect Group Perth host as facebook group and organise zoom catch from time to time.
Queensland
ME/CFS Support Support Association Qld Inc
Location PO Box 125, Queensland, Toowoomba
Description We meet the 1st Wednesday of each month (except January) from 10am – 12.00pm at the Dr Price Room, Little Street Toowoomba. There is no cost to attend meetings, tea and coffee is supplied. We support sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Long Covid
Contact: Lyn Wilson
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mecfsfmq.org.au/home/?page_id=213
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mecfsfm.qld
South Australia
We’re looking for ME/CFS community support groups to share with the people that need peer to peer connection the most. If you run a support group or know of a peer support group in SA, get in contact with us by clicking here and filling out the form
Victoria
Geelong ME/CFS Support Group
Location Geelong, Victoria – Meets at Noble St Uniting Church, enter from rear of church, Saffron St, Newtown.
Description We meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month, with the exception of November, where we still meet, however on the 2nd Tuesday of that month due to Melbourne Cup Day.
We have a Christmas breakup in December which all are welcome to attend.
We meet monthly to offer support to people with ME/CFS or other related illnesses, their carers, friends or family members. We occasionally have guest speakers and also have been involved in research studies with Deakin University. We have a library and happy to provide resources and support to those who need it. We hold 1-2 awareness days each year to try and raise awareness and also advocate for those who dont have a voice.
Contact Sheryl (secretary) – [email protected]
The Café Club (Inner Melbourne Social Group)
Location Richmond, St Kilda and Fitzroy, Victoria (Zoom meeting only)
Description Our group is a friendly and informal one where we share experiences and information and make new friends. We used to meet at different cafes each month and have other face to face social events, but since Covid we’ve
been purely an online group. We meet on Zoom on the 4th Sunday of each
month
Contact Jane – [email protected]
Café Connect for ME
Location Bendigo, Victoria
Description The group meets monthly at a cafe or a park. We provide a social connection for people who live with ME/CFS and carers of those with ME/CFS.
Contact Diane – [email protected]
Bayside ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Peer Support Group
Location Bentleigh
Description Our group is for both Carers and those living with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. Meet on the fourth Monday of the month at a Community House in Bentleigh, 11 am – 1 pm. We also do meetings on Zoom, and strive to have occasional social gatherings/lunches throughout the year.
Special considerations, this group is independent to Emerge Australia and only take new people in who have lived experience greater than 3 years.
Contact – [email protected]
Northern Territory
We’re looking for ME/CFS community support groups to share with the people that need peer to peer connection the most. If you run a support group or know of a peer support group in the NT, get in contact with us by clicking here and filling out the form
Australian Capacital Territory
- We’re looking for ME/CFS community support groups to share with the people that need peer to peer connection the most. If you run a support group or know of a peer support group in the ACT, get in contact with us by clicking here and filling out the form
National Social Media
Parents of Young People with ME/CFS Australia
Location Australia Wide – https://www.facebook.com/groups/164952131125972
Description Parents of Young People with ME/CFS Australia is the only Australian-based support group for families with children who have ME/CFS, predominantly school-aged from primary to young adults. It was founded in 2018 and currently has 330+ members, with discussions including education and non-traditional approaches to schooling such as Distance Education, health issues and management, and accessing government supports such as NDIS, DSP and carers payments.
