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:
We call this the AV Groups Way. We expect attendees to abide by this in our events, activities and meetings.
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. |
| Teens GroupJoin our Teens Group, for secondary students aged 13 to 18 years. Meet like-minded peers in a relaxed environment; share strengths, passions or interests over board games, or chat with our young adult leaders. Parents and carers meet in an adjoining area sharing stories or listening to a guest speaker about current teen issues. Aspergers Victoria volunteers with lived experience run all meetings and will welcome new families. All group leaders have a Working With Children Check. Contact the Teens Group co-ordinator if you have any questions, or register for a session. Please Note: A parent MUST accompany all children, and the responsibility for supervision and costs of ALL children remains with the parents. |
| Young adults
If you are a young adult with Aspergers aged 18 to 35 years having left school, then this group may suit your needs. Meetings are held in the Eastern suburbs on the 4th Thursday of the month, February to November except public holidays. Occasional social outings are arranged from this group. Meet other young adults, participate in discussions that determine your own life, and listen to the occasional speaker in a friendly inclusive environment.
Parents and carers do not attend this group, and are welcome to attend the Parents & Carers of Young Adults Group.
Young Adults with lived experience run all meetings, and will welcome new attendees. It is expected that group members independently manage their own email to and from the Young Adults group.
Contact the Young Adults co-ordinator if you have any questions, or register for a session.
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| Adults Group If you are an Asperger Adult, then this group may suit your needs. Meetings are held in the Eastern suburbs on the 3rd Thursday of each month, February to November except public holidays. Occasional social outings are arranged by this group. Meet other adults, participate in discussions, or listen to a speaker in a friendly, inclusive environment. Aspergers Victoria volunteers with lived experience run all meetings and welcome new attendees. |
| Our Parents & Carers Groups If you are a parent or carer of a child with Aspergers, then this group may suit your needs. Various meetings are held in the Eastern and Southern Melbourne suburbs February to December, except school and public holidays. Meet other parents and carers, share stories and listen to the occasional speaker, in a friendly inclusive environment. Aspergers Victoria volunteers with shared experience run all meetings and will welcome new attendees. We are planning to expand this to online groups as well. |
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Aspergers Victoria Inc is an Australian registered Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status.