If you or someone a partner or a family member has Aspergers, is autistic, or has another similar neurodivergent profile, you may be interested in joining one of our Peer Support Groups.

AV's peer support groups are a great place to meet others who share your experience of Aspergers or autism, to exchange advice, or to just escape from the outside world into a space where you know that the others in the group understand what you're going through. Peer support groups are often the first option we suggest to people contacting AV for the first time, as this often helps the person to find a few contacts and to experience that feeling of realising that you have a community of support available.

Who runs AV Peer Support Groups?

All of our peer support groups are run by volunteers who are peers of their group - they share their group attendees' perspective and experience of Aspergers or autism. Group leaders and attendees may also have experience of another peer support group, for example having Aspergers or being autistic, as well as being a parent of a neurodivergent young person. All AV volunteers hold valid Working With Children Checks.

Who can attend?

AV peer support groups are open to AV members as well as non-members. New attendees are always welcome at all of our peer support group meetings, and we invite all first-time attendees to register for free! If you would like to try out an AV Peer Support Group, please contact our AV Admin Team - let us know which group you would like to try out and we will send you the code to register for free! AV peer support groups are open to peers at all stages of the diagnosis journey, including self-identified.

Please note that our peer support groups are for peers only and attendees do need to be able to participate independently. We invite partners, parents and carers to attend their own peer support groups. For our Teens Group, as the attendees are under 18 years, a parent or carer must attend each event with their teen. Please visit the Teens Group page for more information.

How can I register?

When you have found a peer group meeting in the calendar below which suits your needs, just click on the "Register" link on the left! This will take you through the registration process.

If you have any questions about this process or need more information, please contact our AV Admin Team.

Meeting schedule

Since the pandemic we’ve moved to a mix of online and in-person events, so please check the peer group meeting calendar below carefully to find out if your next meeting is online via Zoom or in person.

Aspergers Victoria Group Values and Approach:

• A Positive Strengths 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 outside of the group
• Respect: We acknowledge the wishes and rights of others and believe we are responsible for our own behaviour

We call this the AV Groups Way. We expect attendees to abide by this in our events, activities and meetings. Our Peer Volunteers are NOT counsellors or therapists and cannot provide support for mental health issues.  

AV’s Commitment to Child Safety

Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. All adults are required to manage & report on child safety under our laws. AV has adopted the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Standards.  If you feel unsafe or if you know someone who feels unsafe, please REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY to an AV team member or authorities.

OUR PEER MEETINGS 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 extend or enjoy strengths, and ways to manage challenges 

Ultimately our gatherings aim to support self-esteem and, confidence and self-empowerment, to determine your own life independently, including areas of physical and mental health, relationships, employment, finance, housing, special interests and self-reliance. It could be regarded as a social networking program for Aspergers - without therapy.