Support groups for people with ME/CFS including Fibromyalgia (FM) operate across metropolitan Melbourne, country Victoria and Tasmania. Some support groups offer an annual program of guest speakers for participants, while others have a more social focus. Telephone support is also available on (03) 9791 2199.

All groups have indicated that they welcome new members and run their groups according to the needs and requests of group members. If you are interested in knowing more about these groups or wish to join, please call the office on (03) 9791 3100.

Establishing Support Groups

There is a great need for ME/CFS including FM support groups to be established. If you are interested in starting or being involved in a support group, please contact the office on (03) 9791 3100.  A list of two or three participants and volunteer co-facilitators are all that's required to get a group up and running!

Facilitating might be as fundamental as organising a cafe and time to meet, and sending occasional emails to members. ME/CFS Australia (Vic, Tas, NT) supports facilitators in setting up and running their groups through regular tele-conferences and provision of resources. Please call the office on (03) 9791 3100 to chat to us if you're interested in facilitating.

Referrals to ME/CFS including FM support groups are filtered through ME/CFS Australia (Vic, Tas, NT) for the safety of existing group members to protect the privacy of group facilitators.

Email Support Groups

ME/CFS Australia (Vic, Tas, NT) manages two email chat groups; one for young members (under 18 years), and one for members aged over 18. The groups are designed to be a safe place where members can share experiences, thoughts, ideas and connect with others. Unlike the Facebook discussion board, only those with a current membership of ME/CFS can access, join and participate in the groups. Membership is by invitation only; call the office on (03) 9791 3100 for an invite.

The groups are hosted at Yahoo and require a Yahoo account to join.

NEW!! Under 25's Support Group via Live Chat

Meeting Frequency: Weekly, Thursday 4-5pm

Link to group via ME/CFS Australia (Vic, Tas, NT), contact the office on (03) 9791 3100

for further details.

Support Groups (Metro Melbourne)

Bentleigh-Bayside

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, fourth Monday.
Often have guest speakers on a range of serious as well as entertaining and light-hearted topics.  Also meets socially at cafés throughout the year.

Croydon

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Thursday.
Informal meetings with occasional speakers, established in 2004.  Run by a trained counsellor.

Dandenong

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Tuesday.
Informal discussion and support.

NEW!! Doncaster - Youth 25 and Under Cafe Group

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, last Saturday
Informal discussion and support.

Doncaster/Mitcham

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, third Saturday.
Cafe style group, with informal discussion and support.

Frankston

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Tuesday.
Guest speakers or just a coffee and chat and share ideas and tips for managing ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Established 1998.

Glen Waverley

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Monday.
Support group facilitated by a professionally trained counsellor.

Inner East, Cafe Club

Meeting Frequency: Monthly.
A social group for people with ME/CFS, meeting in the inner Melbourne suburbs.

Nothern Suburbs

Meeting Frequency: TBC
Active group with discussion and occasional guest speakers.

Outer East, Cafe Club

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, second Saturday
A social group for people with ME/CFS, meeting in the outer eastern suburbs.

Richmond

Meeting Frequency: Monthly.
Cafe style group for people over 40.

St. Kilda

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, second Tuesday.
Informal and supportive group.  Arranged a large ME/CFS library display during Awareness Week 2009.

Western Suburbs - Bacchus Marsh/Melton

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, third Saturday.

The first meeting of the cafe style Bacchus Marsh support group will occur on the 15th of January 2011.  If you are interested in coming along, please contact ME/CFS Australia (Vic, Tas, NT) on (03) 9791 3100 and we'll put you in touch with the facilitator.

Current Support Groups (Country Victoria)

Ballarat

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, third Tuesday.
Informal and supportive meetings, in addition telephone support between meetings.

Bendigo

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Thursday, 2pm.
Meet informally at a local cafe.

NEW!!  Castlemaine

Meeting Frequency: TBC
Meeting details TBC.

East Gippsland/Sale

Meeting Frequency: Fortnightly, every second Saturday.
Membership from across the East Gippsland, if you can't make the group we can provide telephone support. A great mix of age groups. We distributed 50 health practitioner kits over the last few months. We chat and also discuss the articles/sheets supplied by head office.

Geelong

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, first Tuesday.
Members receive meeting notes and information. Usually 10-15 members attend. We help with telephone support and operate a lending library. Meetings are designed to be positive and informal where members share their experiences with ME/CFS, raise matters they would like investigated and generally have a guest speaker including health practitioners, politicians, researchers and departmental officers. The group is politically active and has met with MPs (see Emerge, Winter 2009).

Shepparton

Meeting Frequency: Monthly, second Friday, 10am-12pm.
We welcome ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia sufferers,  their family & friends, offering support & friendship. Members receive regular newsletters & other information via email & or snail mail. We are very active in creating awareness in the community, with regular guest speakers on various health topics, including Centrelink and Community services available  in our region.
 

Tasmanian Support Groups

For support groups in Tasmania, please click here.

If you are interested in being involved in a support group but are unable to travel to those listed above, please call the office on (03) 9791 3100 to register your interest in being involved in a new support group in your area. Remember, it only takes three people to start a support group!