A peer support group is where people get together as equals to provide support to each other because of similar experiences or circumstances in their life. Joining a Peer Support Group is a great way to build connections with other people with disability, share information, and advocate for the things that are important to you. Peer Connect is a national website with information about peer support. PWdWA has supported a number of peer groups to start and also worked with ConnectGroups to develop some resources about how to set up a peer group and how to keep one going, which you can find in the resources section at the bottom of this page.

People With disability WA's Peer Support Groups

Peer Support and Advocacy for Amputees in WA

Group for amputees and people living with a limb difference

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/458989420948005/

Contact Andrew Fairbairn

Phone: 0466 526 605

Email: [email protected]

Blind Citizens WA

Group for people who are blind/vision impaired, run for and by blind citizens

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/BlindCitizensWA/

Contact Dee Ferris

Phone: 0438 687 768

Email: [email protected]

First Peoples' Disability Advocacy Network WA

Peer support for Aboriginal people with a disability and their families

Contact Wendy Wright

Phone: 0413 401 186

Email: [email protected]

People with FSHD and MD WA

Bi-monthly lunch gatherings for people with all types of Muscular Dystrophy and their families on the last Sunday of the month.

Contact Karen Schonrock

Phone: 9493 7000

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.fshdandmdwa.com

NDIS Grassroots Discussion

Large (43,000 members) online national peer support group for disabled people, family members and supporters. Information sharing and support.

Facebook group: www.tinyurl.com/ndisgrassroots

Contact Samantha Connor

Email: [email protected]

NDIS in WA Peer Support

Online group for disabled people, their families and supporters in WA. Information sharing and support.

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/WA.NDISMyWayPeerSupport/

Contact Bronwyn Lines

Email: [email protected]

WA Autistic Adults

Facebook group: WA Autistic Adults

Self Advocacy and Peer Support WA

Online and face to face group of people who discuss issues around disability, discrimination and self-advocacy

Facebook group: www.tinyurl.com/selfadvocacywa

Contact: Zel lscel

Phone: 0413 813 885

Self Advocacy WA

Face-to-face group of adult self-advocates with an intellectual disability − meets monthly at People With disabilities WA (Perth metro).

Contact: People With disabilities WA

Email: [email protected]

Spinal Chatter

Facebook group and peer support for people with a spinal cord injury.

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/spinalchatter

Contact Karen Harvey

Phone: 9445 7 439

Web: www.spinalchatter.org.au

Access Toodyay

Disabled people and families living in Toodyay

Face-to-face group, meets monthly in Toodyay to share information and support

Contact Samantha Connor

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.tinyurl.com/toodyayaccessgroup

Wheatbelt Disability Action Group

A group of people with disability living in Northam, Toodyay, York and Chittering − information sharing about the NDIS

Face-to-face forums and meetings

Contact Michelle Hogan or Samantha Connor

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Women with Disabilities WA

Regular forums for women with disabilities held in the Perth metro area about topics of interest to disabled women, e-newsletter and Facebook page.

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/wwdwa/

Contact Wendy Wright

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0413 401 186

Web: www.wwdwa.org.au

Youth Disability Advocacy Network

A group of young people aged 12-25 with disabilities in WA advocating for the rights and interests of all young people living with disabilities in WA.

Twitter: @YDANWA

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/youthdisabilityadvocacy/

Contact Jesse or Rebecca

Email: [email protected]

Carers with Disability Australia

Online FB group for disabled people who are carers for other disabled people (including people who are aged and medically unwell)

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/carerswithdisability

WA Accessible Shooting Discussion

A group for disabled people who are interested in recreational or competition shooting. The group discusses techniques, aids and equipment, events and opportunities.

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/WAASD/

Contact Clint Morgan

Email: [email protected]

Inside Out

A group of disabled people who provide peer support to residents in the WA Quadriplegic Centre.

Email: [email protected]

Consumers of Mental Health WA's Peer Support Groups

CoMHWA is the state-wide, peak body for people with lived/living experience of mental health issues (consumers).

For more information contact admin or visit their website.

Phone: 08 9258 8911

Email: admin@comhwa.org.au

WA Peer Supporters' Network

The WA Peer Supporter's Network (WAPSN) promotes the growth of peer support and the peer workforce, serving as a hub for learning, news, collaboration and support in Western Australia.  CoMHWA currently hosts WAPSN with funding support from the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia.

The Network offers a newsletter and networking every two months.

Joining the network is free and open to peer supporters; simply email [email protected] or contact (08) 9258 8911.

Phone:  (08) 9258 8911

Email: [email protected]

Website: WA Peer Supporters' Network 

Peer support resources

Accessible information (PDF)

Being a good treasurer (PDF)

Being a good committee member (PDF)

Being a good secretary (PDF)

Where to get help – for disabled parents and carers of disabled children and adults (PDF)

Having a good meeting (PDF)

Holding an event (PDF)

How to be a good chairperson (PDF)

How to be an effective contact person (PDF)

How to be an effective support group (PDF)

How to book and use an Auslan interpreter (PDF)

How to communicate effectively (PDF)

How to create a Statement of Purpose (PDF)

How to find and keep members (PDF)

How to hold an accessible event (PDF)

How to keep your financial records (PDF)

How to manage conflict (PDF)

How to solve problems in your group (PDF)

How to work with newspapers and magazines (PDF)

How to work with radio and television (PDF)

How to write a media release (PDF)

How to write an agenda (PDF)

How to write an information sheet or brochure (PDF)

How to support younger people with a disability ar risk of entering aged care (PDF)

How to get help from the NDIS (PDF)

Telling people about your group – going to expos and public meetings (PDF)

Using Twitter (PDF)

Watching your group grow (PDF)