What is Peer Support?

We believe that it is important people keep in contact after leaving hospital. The notion of Peer Support, of spinally injured people receiving information from other spinally injured people (ideally with a similar level of disability) is the philosophy of the AQA Information/Peer Support Department.

Peer support is available to people with spinal cord injuries or similar physical disabiliities as well as to their families and friends, encouraging people to contact us by phone or email. We attend the Austin Hospital's Country Spinal Clinics in regional Victoria and Tasmania and regard this as a vital part of peer support.

By contacting a peer support person you may be rapidly solving a problem common to many. You may need help with, for example getting dressed, returning to the workplace, dealing with Centrelink, sexuality, even with accessible accomodation for holidays. Maybe you just need a sounding board for an idea or company for a counter lunch and a beer.

Email one of the Peer Support Team Members directly.

Click on each photo to read information on our Info/Peer Support Team Members
Nazim Erdem Peer Support Officer nazimerdem@aqavic.org.au	Peter Van Benthem Peer Support Officer petervanbenthem@aqavic.org.au