Support Groups Notices

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Western Australia

Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA provide a number of Support Groups in various areas which are led by a trained volunteer leader, giving people the opportunity to talk freely about their experiences in a safe non-judgemental environment. If you are interested in attending or facilitating one of our support groups, please contact Clara by phone on 08 9388 2199 or email clarac@arthritiswa.org.au. Alternatively please click here for more information on locations and times.

Next Support Group Meetings:

• Inflammatory Arthritis Support Group, Tues 2nd May, 10:30am – 12:30pm, Wyllie Arthritis Centre, 17 Lemnos Street, Shenton Park

• Mandurah Scleroderma Support Group, Tues 15th May, 10am – 12noon, Eastlake Church, 99 Lakes Road, Mandurah

Upcoming Talks held at the Wyllie Arthritis Centre, 17 Lemnos Street, Shenton Park.
Entry by donation. Bookings essential. Phone Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA on 9388 2199.

• Feet and Arthritis, Fri 25th May 2012, 11am – 12noon

• Arthritis and the Hand, Tues 5th June 2012, 11am – 12noon

Carers WA

Everyone deserves a break from time to time. The Carers WA Social Support Program offers organised social events and activities for carers to have a break from their caring role in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment.

Carers WA offers a range of social activities including:

Linking Together lunches and morning teas
Linking Together Art & Cultural Events
Linking Together Walking Groups
Yoga and Meditation Sessions
Linking Together Younger Female Carer Group
Multi-Cultural Carer Group
Vietnamese Carer Group
Anne Bluntish Carers Retreat
Short Break Funding
Short Break with Carers WA
Male Carer Group
Pamper Sessions
Movie Events

For more information about our Social Support activities, or any other Carers WA services, please call 1300 CARERS (1300 227 377), email info@carerswa.asn.au or visit http://www.carerswa.asn.au/. For information on the 2012 Carers conference visit www.wacarersconference2012.com.au

Caring Friends Depression Support Group

Caring Friends provide weekly workshops, mutual support meetings and individual counselling, to help people overcome depression, bipolar, anxiety or stress. The workshops are offered between 1-2pm and are largely based on CBT, from which members gain skills to help them overcome their mental health problem/s. The workshops occur only if most members are interested. Before and after assessments are done for some who wish to know how much they have improved.

The mutual support meetings follow the workshops in which members share experiences and learn from each other in a caring and supportive situation. A strong emphasis is placed on the formation of a mutual support network among members, that functions outside the group and continues on to provide help and support to each other in the community, which is valuable during periods of stress or crises. It is worth noting, that living in close knit rural communities, enhances the degree and quality of support and help that is available and used by members of this type of mutual support network.

Individual help and support, occurs between 10-12am. Members have access to our library of self-help books. They can also receive a range of handouts and worksheets about ways to help overcome their mental health problems.

Office and meeting rooms: Salvation Army Hall, 94 Kent Street, Busselton (near Churchill Park).

Hours: Wednesdays: 10- 12 am individual help; 1-3pm workshops and mutual support.

Contact: Phone/fax: 97515 866. For more information: Bob: 97554 021

Email: caringfriends@westnet.com.au

Website: http://www.evenkeel.org.au/

Cystic Fibrosis WA

May 2012 is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Cystic Fibrosis WA’s goal is to ensure people living with CF in Western Australia have the support and services they need to achieve "lives unaffected by CF".

65 Roses Day is the one day a year when an army of friends and relatives are called upon to show their support.There are many ways you can help including: organising a fundraising event (coffee morning, etc); make a donation; purchase merchandise; set up a fundraising page and encourage your friends to support you; volunteer on the day in our marquee in the City; sell a bucket of roses; sell a merchandise kit. For further details please visit the special 65 Roses Day or email Sarah on fundraiser@cysticfibrosiswa.org

Derbarl Yerrigan Cancer Support Group

This is an open support group for anyone affected by a diagnosis of cancer including family members and carers. Join with others who understand, share your experience or just come along to listen and connect with others in a confidential and supportive environment.

Click here to find out more about this support group.

Even Keel Bipolar Disorder Support Association

Even Keel is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation which was founded in 1984 as a means of providing support to people who were experiencing Bipolar Disorder, known then as Manic Depression. 27 Years on, Even Keel now operates ten support groups, six inpatient information sessions and a library resource centre. The groups are open to anyone experiencing a mental illness, their family, friends, and carers. Other interested members of the community are welcome too.

Even Keel holds a weekly support group at Subiaco every Monday at 10.30am-11.30am at Even Keel: June O'Connor Centre. 2 Nicholson Rd. SUBIACO WA 6008

People with any mental illness or issue are invited, including carers, friends, family and interested members of the community.

A further 8 Even Keel support groups held in various suburbs. See other meeting locations.

Please phone Even Keel at 9388 9869. http://evenkeel.org.au/

Fairholme Disability Support Group - The Great Bike Hike

An initiative of Fairholme Disability Support Group, The Great Bike Hike is promoting WA communities’ efforts to be welcoming and affirming places for people with disability, mental illness, their families and carers.
See Flyer for more information.

Fibromyalgia Support Network of Western Australia Inc

The Fibromyalgia Support Network of Western Australia Inc provides support to people who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

The main aim of the Fibromyalgia Support Network is to provide information and support for people with Fibromyalgia to encourage self-management of their symptoms and to increase public awareness and understanding of this condition.

The Network offers:

Monthly Educational Meetings
Coffee Mornings
Monthly Newsletters
Online Support
Facebook – www.facebook.com/groups/fibro.support.wa
Web page – http://www.fibromyalgiawesternaustralia.com/
Educational Forums
Social Events

If you would like more information about any of the above items, please call Lyn on 08 9498 6546 or 0414 774 649

Fellowship House Carer Support and Respite Services

The aim of the group is to support Carers of someone living with a Mental Illness and also Carers of someone living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Also to provide them with information to support them in maintaining their role and having friendship/support groups so carers can form friendships with other carers through having some time out away from their role in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Click here to see Fellowship House Carer Support and respite services calendar for May and June 2012.

Fremantle Multicultural Centre – Art support group

New Community Resource a winner for Mental Health

Fremantle Multicultural Centre recently launched an exciting community arts resource for building resilience and strengthening mental health and wellbeing. Based on a unique art project run at the Centre, Sharing the Journey combines powerful stories of strength and hope with evidence-based research to create a colourful journey of an artist, a researcher and eight diverse and talented women united by a vision to connect and create together. The resource is available free online and in hard copy.

Click here to read the article.

Genetic Support Council WA Inc. (GSCWA)

Service Contract with the WA Department of Health will not be extended.

The Genetic Support Council of WA Inc has been advised by Statewide Contracting that the Genetic Support Council WA’s Service Contract with the WA Department of Health will not be extended past 30 June 2012. Read more

Seeking Parents of a Child with Disability

The Genetic Support Council is inviting parents of children with disabilities to participate in an ethics approved online survey. The research examines resilience, self-esteem, social support and life satisfaction of parents of a child with disability.

Title of Project: Parents of a child with a disability, and resilience

About the Research: This survey examines resilience, social support, self-esteem and life satisfaction and parents of a child with a disability. It consists of an online survey that takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and has been approved by ECU's Human Research Ethics Committee.

Who Can Participate? The Genetic Support Council of WA is seeking parents or carers of a child with a disability who are Australian residents. The disability may be formally or informally diagnosed, and includes all types of disability (such as physical, cognitive and learning disability).

End Date: 30 June 2012

Survey Link: http://www.tinyurl.com/dissurvey

Glaucoma Support Group

The Glaucoma Support Group provides education and support for people with glaucoma.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday, 19th May from 2pm – 4pm at the Lions Eye Institute, 2 Verdun Street, Nedlands.

There will be a guest speaker, followed by afternoon tea.

For more information contact Judy Saunders

Email: jsaunders@glaucoma.org.au
Telephone: 9445 7244
Website: http://www.glaucoma.org.au/

For details of all meetings for 2012 please Click Here.

Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA Inc.

Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA (inc) is a support group for grandparents, great-grandparents, and occasionally aunties, uncles or great-aunties and great-uncles who are rearing children full-time because their parents are not in a position to do so.

It is a non-profit organization with a membership fee of $5.00 per family each financial year.

It meets 3 times a month. For more information visit their website on http://www.grandparentsrearinggrandchildren.org.au/

Kalparrin

Kalparrin helps families of children with disabilities and special needs by providing practical information and support, and connecting them with the services that they need.

Please find following information about upcoming Kalparrin Events for Families of Children with Special Needs. Registrations are essential for all events.

Mothers Respite Weekends.
18th - 20th May 2012 - Fairbridge Pinjarra, WA.
16th - 18th November 2012 - Alfred Hines Rockingham, WA

Couples Respite Weekends.
23 - 24th June 2012
8 - 9th September 2012

LADS - Learning & Attentional Disorders Society of WA Inc.

Working together for people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

LADS is a support group complemented by a Professional Advisory Board. LADS was established to meet the needs of children, adolescents and adults with learning and intentional disorders.

With no regular funding sources, LADS relies on volunteers to provide most of its services, with generous support from private donors.

LADS Mission is to:

Increase awareness and acceptance of AD/HD

Liaise and work collaboratively with professionals in the field including the LADS Professional Advisory Board
Improve the quality of life for people with AD/HD and associated conditions
Provide opportunities for people with AD/HD to meet each other

LADS Provides:

Contact details of appropriate professionals
Evidence-based current research and knowledge base
AD/HD seminars and workshops
Telephone help-line
Monthly Support Groups

Coffee mornings for parents
Evening meetings for adults

Seminars at minimum/reduced costs to members

EMAIL: lads@cnswa.com
WEB: http://www.ladswa.com.au/
PH: 9346 7544 (Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30am to 12.30pm)

LADS is seeking a BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (LEVEL 6) to lead LADS organisation forward so that it can continue to help the many people who contact them for assistance. If you would like to challenge yourself and be part of a growing organisation Click here for more information.

The Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group

The Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group commenced in 1990 with the aim of providing information, mutual support and encouragement to persons suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) and related facial pain conditions. At that time, TN was little known in the community due mainly to the fact that it affects only about one in every 20,000 people. Because of the excruciating pain, sufferers felt isolated and lacking knowledge of the medication, surgical and other options available to alleviate the pain.

Samaritans Crisis line

Operating 24/7 out of Perth for 45 years, the Samaritans Crisis Line is a unique organisation providing a non-judgmental, non-religious, confidential listening service to the lonely, despairing and suicidal. Their services are multifaceted, enabling the organisation to increase public awareness of the diverse mental health issues facing local communities and to be accessible across all generations. While their core service is telephone crisis support that sees volunteers answer over 16,000 calls a year, they also offer:

Email Support
Face-to-Face Support
Support Groups for those bereaved by suicide

The official opening of their new branch at the Billy Dower Youth Centre will coincide with the launch of National Volunteer Week 2012 on Monday, 14th May 2012

For more information about the organisation or to register your interest in becoming a volunteer, please visit http://www.samaritanscrisisline.org.au/ or call the administration team on (08) 9381 5725.

White Wreath Assoc Ltd

White Wreath Day - In Remembrance of All Victims of Suicide will once again take place on Tuesday 29.5.2012

To find out how to get involved go to their website http://www.whitewreath.com/

The association also offers:

Personal Phone Contact
Advocates on behalf of those who need assistance with their mental health especially for those who are suicidal
Support those bereaved by suicide