Welcome to Peer Support at Dementia Australia.
Connecting Peers is a one-to-one peer support program where people living with dementia - or caring for someone with dementia – share their knowledge, experience and feelings to support each other.
The program:
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Would you like to volunteer as a Peer Leader?
Peer Leaders volunteer their time to provide empathy and support from their own lived experience as someone who is living with dementia, or caring for someone living with dementia.
There are many motivations for becoming a Peer Leader: to help others on a similar path, to give back to the community or to honor a loved one. The most important thing for a Peer Leader to be able to do is listen - without judging, providing unsolicited advice or taking over the conversation.
Being a Peer Leader is about helping someone else on their journey, so you need to be willing and able to listen to stories that may include feelings of grief and loss. If you are still coming to terms with a diagnosis, recently bereaved or adjusting to the loss of a loved one, a Peer Leader role may not be right for you at the moment; you may need to take some time for yourself first. Dementia Australia can help. Please call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 to speak to one of our advisers.
Watch this video interview with four Peer Leaders
Completion of a short online induction course is required, plus an Australian Criminal History Check, funded by Dementia Australia. Once you submit your application, you will receive an automatic email with more program information. A member of the Peer Support team will be in touch soon after to talk about next steps.
Click the Fill in an application button in the top right hand corner of this page to get started - and thank you for your interest in wanting to help others. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would you like to talk to someone who 'gets it'?
If you are living with dementia or caring for someone living with dementia you can receive support from a volunteer Peer Leader.
"...my experience of the Peer Program has been the best thing I’ve found since my diagnosis.’ Gail, Gippsland
You will be connected with someone in similar circumstances who can share aspects of their journey that may be helpful. A person living with dementia is matched to another person living with dementia; a carer is matched to a carer. Whether it's a single call or several, there's nothing like talking to someone 'who gets it'.
“It’s the best thing I’ve had this whole journey,” says Debbie, who cares for her husband.
Debbie says the support she receives from her Peer Leader is more valuable than a paid professional; the connection is more natural, yet tailored. She has picked up practical tips and learned how to prepare for the future.
Click Here to register if you would like to receive support from a volunteer Peer Leader. A member of the peer Support team will then contact you to talk about next steps.
Questions? Email us at peer.support@dementia.org.au
