Last update: October 2011

Bass Coast

Philip Island & District Down Syndrome Support.

For more information please contact Stu 0425 842 279 or Leisha 0425 842 281

Wonthaggi & District ASD Support Group. 

Meets at Inverloch Hub - 16 Abeckett Street, Inverloch on the first Wednesday of the month during school terms. Cost $2 per adult (to cover cost of tea/coffee), from 10.30 am - 12.30 pm. For more details contact Julie on 0356 574 248, or Franki on 0410 645 613 or franki [at] hopkinsdesign [dot] com [dot] au 

Wonthaggi Group. Headway Gippsland.

See South Gippsland - Social Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Baw Baw

SPOAK- Supporting Parents of Asperger/Autism Kids.

Meetings are held at Indulge Yourself Cafe, Hope Street in Drouin from 10am-12noon weekly during school terms. Contact Janice on 0356 253 075 or 0407 554 080, or Jill on 0438 183 539, or Joy 0408 359 694.

Trafalgar Autism Parent Support Group.

Contact Raelee Hill on hill [dot] raelee [dot] a [at] edumail [dot] vic [dot] gov [dot] au or phone the school on 0356 331 566.

My Time Warragul. 

Visit the My Time website for more information on the Warragul sessions. 

Trafalgar - Carer Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit Headway Gippsland website for more information.

Trafalgar - Social Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland website for more information about the Trafalgar Social Support Group.

Drouin Westerners- Social Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland website for more information about the Drouin Social Support Group.

East Gippsland

East Gippsland Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group.

Meets monthly in Bairnsdale on Tuesday afternoons and new parents / carers are encouraged to come along and meet the others who share a simlar experience in life. Meetings are from 12.30pm - 2.30pm at the Uniting Church, Lanes Road, Bairnsdale (opposite the Bairnsdale Sporting & Convention Centre - old Italian Social Club). Contact Julie on 0408 013 555.

Lakes Entrance Cuppa Group.

Will be meeting at the Lakes Sports and Community Club (previously know as Lakes Entrance Entertainment Centre) on the corner of the Esplanade and Church Street Lakes Entrance, from 10.00am - 11.30am. Contact Carolyn on 0351 565 744 or 0427 399 372.

Bairnsdale & District Challenging Behaviour Support Group.

Meets in Bairnsdale at the RSL, Princes Highway for coffee from 10.30am - 12.00 noon. Contact Narelle M on 0351 530 206. Sharlene on 0351 569 245 or Narelle B on 0351 522 915 or 0414 915 440.

STEPS Orbost.

Daytime meetings for parents to get together over a coffee or tea are held at the Orbost Maternal & Child health centre from 1.00pm - 2.00pm. For enquries contact Nadia on 0411 840 956 or nadsdeccy [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] au .
Evening meetings for professionals and parents are held at Orbost Regional Health 7.00pm - 8.30pm. For enquiries contact Yvonne @ p2pg 1800 010 453.

Bairnsdale & District Down Syndrome Support.

For more information contact Tiffany on 0351 568 182, or Carmel on 0351 567 152.

Bairnsdale & District Cerebal Palsy Support Network. p2p, * . 

For more information contact Yvonne 1800 010 453.

Play Connect Lakes Entrance.

Visit the Play Connect Website for more information.

My Time Bairnsdale.

Visit the My Time Website for more information on the Bairnsdale Sessions.

My Time Lakes Entrance.

Visit the My Time Website for more information on the Lakes Entrance Sessions.

Bairnsdale - Carer Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland Website for more information.

Lakes Entrance - Social Support Program. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland Website for more information on the Lakes Entrance Social Support Program.

Latrobe City

SuppAUT. 

For families who have children with Autism and live in the Latrobe region. Meetings are from 10.00am - 12 noon and are held at Noah's Ark regional office in Chestnut Avenue Morwell. Contact Lou 0351 750 877.

Hearing Impaired Support.

For more information contact Roz on 0351 222 645.

Gippsland Carers Association.

Gippsland Carers Association new monthly peer Support Group is open to all unpaid family carers in Gippsland. It's a great opportunity for carers to take some time - out from caring and meet with other who really understand what it's like to be a carer. The Support Group will meet on the first Wednesday each month starting in June from 10.00am - 12 noon at ECG (next to iGain), 58 - 60 Commercial Road, Morwell. Contact Kate Buxton on 0439 377 001 or gippscarer [dot] kate [at] gmail [dot] com .

My Time Morwell.

Visit the My Time Website for information on the Morwell Sessions.

Latrobe Valley - Social Support Program. Headway Gippsland

Visit the Headway Gippsland website for more information about the Latrobe Valley Social Support Program.

South Gippsland

South Gippsland Carers.

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Leongatha Community House, Bruce Street in Leongatha, from 10.00 am - 12 noon. Contact Bill on 0356 596 468, or Heather on 0356 689 243.

South Gippsland - Carer Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland Website for more information. 

South Gippsland - Social Support Group. Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland website for more information about the South Gippsland Social Support Group. 

Wellington

SPAN - Special Parents Alliance Network.

Meets in Yarram during school terms on the first Tuesday of the month at the Commercial Hotel Coffee Shop from 11.00 am - 1.00 pm. Contact Jane 0351 820 258.

Sale & District Autism Support Group.

Meets in Sale during school terms at The Resource Centre, above Dimmeys, Cunningham Street, from 10.00am - 12 noon. Contact Lisa on 0351 444 691, or Deb 0351 430 124, or Sharyn on 0351 472 738.

Wellington Special Needs Network Inc.

Meets in Sale at Delbridge Hall, St. Pauls Church, Cunningham Street, from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Contact Anita on 0351 444 408.

Maffra Autism/Aspie Support.

Contact Claire on 0351 471 487.

Maffra Carers Group.

Meets at the Maffra Hospital 48 Kent Street in the Community Meeting Room from 1.00pm - 3.00pm. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month from February to November - providng information and support for people in various caring roles. Contact Pam 0351 455 417.

Play Connect Maffra.

When: Tuesday's in school terms. Registrations on arrival. 
Time: 1.00pm - 3.00pm. 
Venue: Glassford Street Kindergarten, 1 Glassford Street, Maffra.
Enquires to: Uniting Care Gippsland, Sale. 0351 447 777 or contact Di Robertson 0417 370 801, Maffra Maternal Health Nurse.

My Time Sale.

Visit the My Time Website for more information on the Sale Sessions.

Sale - Carer Support Group - Headway Gippsland.

Visit the Headway Gippsland Website for more information.
 

For queries please phone the contact parents listed within each group, or contact Yvonne at Parent to Parent Gippsland on 1800 010 453, or 0351 353 131. 

If you need respite to attend a support group meeting please contact the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre on 1800 242 696.

Friends for People with a Disability. Australian Red Cross.

This program has been developed in response to the identification of people who may experience isolation  or difficulty accessing the community due to a disability. 

Participants are matched one to one with a volunteer friend of similar interest for friendship, regular social contact and to have support to reconnect with the community.

Contact: Joan White, Program Convenor. 0351 43 2639 or 0351 432 615. gippsland [at] vic [dot] redcross [dot] org [dot] au or lcooney [at] vic [dot] redcross [dot] org [dot] au.