Emerge Australia

PO Box 120

Prahran VIC 3181

Emerge Australia’s Peer Support Program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by ME/CFS by connecting them with peers who are going through similar experiences. Peer support can reduce the sense of isolation people feel by being with others who understand what it’s like to live with, or care for someone with, ME/CFS and associated conditions.

The Peer Support Program has a range of options catering to different needs, including our Peer Support Groups and Connect with ME service for people severely affected by ME/CFS.

Emerge Australia has 20 Peer Support Groups running in Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. They come in

all shapes and sizes: from casual get-togethers at cafes to structured meetings with office bearers performing specific tasks. 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.

Whether you’d like to join one of our existing groups or you’d like to start a new one, we can help you find something that works for you. Please contact our Peer Support Coordinator who can help you with your query.

Due to the debilitating nature of the condition, we understand that not all people are able to participate in a Peer Support Group. Emerge Australia is working on a service for people who are severely affected with ME/CFS (SAM) who are housebound or bedbound. Carers of SAM people are also welcome to get use this service.

A contact list is being set up where people can register their interest in connecting with others through letter writing, email,phone or Skype. SAM people can elect which mode/s of communication is/are best for them and interact with others with similar interests or hobbies when they feel up to it – no pressure!

A pilot program is being developed where volunteers can make home-visits to SAM people and their carers who are interested. Volunteers will be trained in the complex challenges SAM people and their carers face to ensure visits are pleasant with minimal stress or fuss.