If you, a partner or a family member has Aspergers, then our peer support groups may suit your needs.  Meet others, share stories or listen to the occasional speaker in a friendly and inclusive community environment.  Aspergers Victoria volunteers with lived experience run all meetings and will welcome new attendees. Please let them know if you are new.

Peer groups are often the first port of call for new members - a place where you can meet others, listen, learn and share stories. You need to be independently capable to attend our groups, as carers don't participate. For our under 18 Teens group parents must remain present at the venue but are in a separate area to build Teen independence further. 

Our Peer Groups aim to empower attendees through discovering: 

·       COMMUNITY Our groups create a sense of belonging to a community with like-minded, supportive peers with lived experience

·       RESILIENCE  through ‘Growth Mindset’ and ‘Self-Regulation’ learning

·       CONFIDENCE through a focus on appreciation of strengths, special interests and abilities 

·       SELF-DETERMINATION and independence through mentoring and learning

·       FRIENDSHIP and social experience through regular peer gatherings. Reduce isolation, perceived stigma plus builds     friendship and trust through regular contact with the group

·       KNOWLEDGE shared in the group about how to manage challenges or extend strengths 

Ultimately our Groups builds members’ self-esteem and, confidence and self-empowerment, to determine their own lives independently, including areas of physical and mental health, relationships, employment, finance, housing, special interests and self-reliance. It could be regarded in medical terms as a health program for Aspergers - without being therapised.

Referrals keep coming to the group from local health services, schools, youth services and by word of mouth and have now exceeding our capacity to accommodate them in a volunteer-managed format. 

 *Please note these groups are for Aspergers Victoria members only, however you are very welcome to attend a meeting before joining our community.                   Join online today!

Our Meeting Schedule

Aspergers Victoria Group Values and Approach:

• A Positive Mindset: We see possibilities, strengths and talents; not problems or deficits
• A Growth Mindset: We pursue goals through continual learning from each other equally and share that knowledge; we don’t judge ourselves or others
• Empowerment: We listen, support and encourage others to grow
• Empathy: We try to understand another’s situation and help, if asked
• Trust: We value the privacy and confidentiality of others in and out of the group
• Respect: We acknowledge the wishes and rights of others and believe we are responsible for our own behaviour

Our Groups bookings go to the bottom of this page or to our Events webpage. 

For any questions relating to our groups, or general group enquiries, contact us at AV Groups.  

Please note: 

 - Any promotion of members’ ventures and other (non AV) items of interest are only to be conducted via the Groups Coordinator or the Group Leader.  If you wish to make announcements or distribute materials at our meetings, please email your request to the Groups Coordinator groups@aspergersvic.org.au

- AV has become aware of groups using the AV logo or name to promote their services or groups without AV approval. AV cannot provide any assurance of the quality of any group not coordinated by AV and not listed in the links below. They will not be covered by our insurance, nor have our Peer Leader training or necessarily deliver quality support to AV standards. 

- AV Groups do not provide professional advice, medical advice, counselling, crisis management or case management.  You can find support through our professionals directory or through a number of organisations that do offer crisis support.