Type 1 Peer Support Group Program

"D-Kids was formed to provide much needed social and emotional support to not just the parents, but also children with diabetes and their siblings". By Jen Lawrence Convenor, D-Kids.

Jen Lawrence, mother of five year old Ryan who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years ago, formed the Type 1 Peer Support Group, D-Kids to provide an important support network for all parents of children living with type 1 diabetes in the Eastern Melbourne region.

The DA–Vic Type 1 Peer Support Groups  provide an opportunity for people to access type 1 diabetes specific information and support in their local community.

We are committed to identifying the ever evolving needs of living with type 1 diabetes and facilitating support though the Type 1 Peer Support Group Program.

If you are looking for a support group in your local area, phone the appropriate contact listed below. If you are interested in starting a Type 1 Peer Support Group, or are already running one and would like to join the Type 1 Peer Support Program, contact the Program Coordinator on (03) 9667 1721 for further information.

Sharing experiences is a powerful way of learning how to manage diabetes. Meeting other people with diabetes can help reduce the isolation that people may feel and be a source of support when needed.

Contacts

Contact details are provided for individuals seeking diabetes peer support.  Organisations and other businesses must not contact group convenors for purposes of marketing or market research.

• Diabetes Referral Centre Inc.
  Children and families in the Warrnambool area
  Contact Mylee Collins on 0400 729 357

• Fun, Food and Exercise
  School-aged children in the east Gippsland region (Sale)                                 
  Contact Elise Perillo on (03) 9667 1721
• Geelong Family Support
  Children and families in the Geelong area
  Contact Teri-Ann Brown on 0400 502 291
• HypoActive
  Adult support group for anyone interested in exercise, non-geographical
  Contact Gavin Wright via email: gavin.wright@hypoactive.org or via their website
• Insulin Pump Group of Victoria
  Insulin pump users, non-geographical
  Contact Elise Perillo on (03) 9667 1721
• Latrobe Valley Type 1 Support Group
  Adults in the Latrobe Valley (Morewell)
  Contact Michelle Darling on (03) 5127 9137

• Manningham Type 1 Support Group
  Adults in Manningham area
  Contact Russell Banks on (03) 9667 1721
• Melbourne Type 1 Group
  Adults in metropolitan Melbourne
  Contact Teresa Pitt on 0419 438 221
• My-T1
  Children and familes in the Cranbourne /Frankston area
  Contact Mairi-Anne Macartney on 0414 932 924
• OAT 1D
  Older adults with type 1 diabetes in the west Gippsland region (Drouin)
  Contact Sandra Bell on (03) 5624 3500 or Donna Ablett on (03) 5623 0848
• Oz Diabetes Online Community
  Online support group
  Get yourself a twitter account and join the conversation at 8:30pm AEDT Tuesdays.
  Follow #OzDOC and use www.tweetchat.com/room/room/OzDOC
  Contact Kim Henshaw on 0412 632 240 or email ozdiabetesoc@gmail.com 
• Parents in the East
  Parents and families in the Kew area  
  Contact Terri Lange on 0417 075 008

• Sugarbabes
  Children and families in the west Gippsland area (Warragul)
  Contact Donna Ablett on (03)5624 3500
• Sweet Sisters
  Young Women who have young children, are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant in the West Gippsland region (Warragul)
  Contact Donna Ablett or Sandra Bell on (03) 5624 3500
• Type 1 Tribe
  Facebook online support group for families
  who have multiple children with type 1 
  Contact Shannon Macpherson on 0418 596 788