Donate 1300 781 500
[email protected]

Melbourne Peer Support Hub
Level 8, 255 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Open 10am – 5pm Mon, Wed, Thurs
(closed public holidays)

Donate
1300 781 500
Skip to main content
[email protected]

Melbourne Peer Support Hub
Level 8, 255 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Open 10am – 5pm Mon, Wed, Thurs
(closed public holidays)

Proudly celebrating 15 years supporting women with cancer to live well

Celebrating 15 years

Counterpart connects, supports and informs women with breast or a gynaecological cancer to live well. Proudly celebrating our 15th birthday, we have supported women affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer 30,000 times since 2003 and developed a range of programs to help women get the information they need. Ms Gabrielle Williams, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers was a guest at an event celebrating Counterpart’s 15th birthday on 19 April 2018. Over 100 guests, including volunteers, health professionals and donors, took part in this special celebration.

Celebrating our volunteers

Counterpart was launched in 2003, the result of tireless campaigning by women who had experienced breast cancer for a consumer-based resource centre and peer support.  Ms Williams presented certificates to our volunteers who have achieved 10 and 15 years of service at an event celebrating Counterpart’s 15th birthday on 19 April 2018. She also acknowledged more than 135 Peer Support and Program Support volunteers who have contributed over 20,000 hours to the service supporting Victorian women.

Counterpart champion

We also awarded the inaugural Counterpart Champion award to Heather Beanland, in recognition of her dedication and commitment to improving the experiences of women with cancer, particularly breast cancer. Heather played an enormous role as an advocate for our service, and assisted in its establishment. She was a Peer Support Volunteer from 2003 to 2017, and shared her time and experience generously across all aspects of our service. Heather also contributes to many committees in the cancer and women’s health spheres.

New Navigator app

Ms Williams, also launched a new app — the Counterpart Navigator — to assist women with breast or a gynaecological cancer to find reliable, evidence-based information on topics they want to know about. Building on the earlier BreaCan Navigator app, the Counterpart Navigator app has expanded to include six new gynaecological cancer Navigators, funded by the Victorian Government.

Increased screening and improvements in cancer treatments mean more women are living longer with cancer or adjusting to life after treatment. This means the need for support and information for women diagnosed with cancer is growing, making services like Counterpart more important than ever.

Stepping into Wellness in 2018

Counterpart is very pleased to announce four more Stepping into Wellness gentle exercise programs starting in May and August. We are grateful to Pink Affair for their continued and generous support.

Programs in Epping and Frankston will start in May and programs in Chirnside Park and Heidelberg will start in August.

Exercise has major benefits for women following cancer diagnosis and treatment. Our program can help to:

  • increase mobility and flexibility
  • learn specific exercises to help boost your energy levels
  • safely improve your range of movement
  • regain confidence in your body
  • have fun and connect with other women.

Stepping into Wellness is a six-week gentle exercise program run by a qualified instructor who has had breast cancer. The program is easy to understand and follow and will focus on stretching, resistance training, tai chi and general health.  You will not need any special clothing or equipment to attend.

Epping

The program will run weekly from Wednesday 16 May to Wednesday 20 June 2018, 1.30pm–3.00pm.

Registrations close Wednesday 9 May 2018.

Frankston

The program will run weekly from Monday 14 May to Monday 25 June 2018, 1.30pm–3.00pm. (Please note, due to the public holiday, there will not be a class on Monday 11 June).

Registrations close Monday 7 May 2018.

Chirnside Park

The program will run weekly from Monday 13 August to Monday 17 September 2018, 1.30pm–3.00pm.

Registrations close Monday 6 August 2018.

Heidelberg

The program will run weekly from Wednesday 15 August to Wednesday 19 September 2018, 10.30am–12.00pm.

Registrations close Wednesday 8 August 2018.

To register or get more information, please call the Counterpart Resource Centre on 1300 781 500 or send an email to [email protected] so we can post some registrations forms to you. Please note the closing dates listed under each program.

Open evening for health professionals

Counterpart is inviting health professionals to visit our new Resource Centre and find out how our community-based service complements their care. Hear first-hand how peer support can help women cope with cancer — at diagnosis, during treatment and beyond.

Open evening for health professionals

Tuesday 27 February 2018
4pm–8pm

Counterpart Resource Centre
Level 5, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Introduction to Counterpart presentations will be held at 5pm and 6pm, but you can drop by any time between 4pm and 8pm.

Learn how you can use our programs and services to benefit the women you support:

  • Peer support — meet and talk with our Peer Support Volunteers.
  • Exercise — Stepping into Wellness and Feel Good exercise programs.
  • Information — Navigator apps and our free Resource Library for people affected by cancer.
  • Events — including our webinar series, which can be broadcast in your area.
  • Advanced cancer support — specialised support for women living with metastatic cancer.
  • Practical demonstrations — making online referrals, using our Resource Library, webinars, and using our early breast cancer Navigator app.

Light refreshments will be provided.

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is close to Melbourne Central Station as well as trams and buses. Parking is available in the QV car park (entrances on Lonsdale, Russell and Little Lonsdale Streets).

You may be able to claim CPD points for self-directed or informal learning. A Certificate of Attendance can be provided.

For more information contact Katherine Bradstreet on 03 8488 9839 (Tues–Thurs) or email [email protected].

Counterpart Year in Review 2016–17

The Counterpart Year in Review 2016–17 was unveiled at the Women’s Health Victoria Annual General Meeting on Monday 30 October 2017.

It celebrates our new name and the essence of our service: connecting, supporting and informing women with breast or a gynaecological cancer to live well.

Women who have had a diagnosis of breast or a gynaecological cancer contribute to Counterpart in a range of ways: women who access our services provide a community of support for each other; trained Peer Support Volunteers provide unique support and assist women to find evidence-based information relevant to their needs; Program Volunteers keep our library, exercise programs and mail-outs running. The Year in Review includes some of their stories, along with information about our achievements for the year.

In the 2016–17 year, Counterpart:

  • commenced a rural and regional project
  • ran six Stepping into Wellness programs
  • continued Bridge of Support at multiple hospitals
  • started developing a gynaecological cancer navigator
  • offered a varied program of health and wellbeing sessions
  • increased our contacts with people affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer by 12 per cent.

To find out more about Counterpart download the Year in Review from our publications page or contact the Resource Centre to request a printed copy.

An overview of Counterpart’s activities and other programs of Women’s Health Victoria can be found in the WHV Annual Report.

 

BreaCan is now Counterpart – Women Supporting Women with Cancer

Large group photo of Counterpart volunteers at the launch of the new name and brand, 31 May 2017

Tonight Women’s Health Victoria welcomed over 100 guests to launch the new name of their valued cancer support service, BreaCan. Dale Fisher, CEO of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, unveiled the new brand, Counterpart – Women supporting women with cancer, to great fanfare.

BreaCan has provided quality support and information to women living with breast or a gynaecological cancer more than 25,000 times since opening in 2003. As Counterpart, the service will continue to provide the same high quality support to women across Victoria.

Counterpart connects, supports and informs women with breast or a gynaecological cancer to live well.

The name Counterpart celebrates the essence of the service – the trust, warmth, care and positive energy created when women connect and support each other.

We recognise every woman’s experience of cancer is different but talking to another woman with a cancer diagnosis can help.

Counterpart puts peer support at the heart of the new brand.

Highly trained, professional Peer Support Volunteers give other women with breast or a gynaecological cancer emotional support, understanding, hope and comfort.

More information about how Counterpart can support women living with breast or a gynaecological cancer can be found at counterpart.org.au

“Counterpart provides a very special and unique service to women living with breast or a gynaecological cancer. I am honored to launch the new brand and look forward to working with Counterpart at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to connect Victorian women with cancer to the support they need.” said Dale Fisher, CEO of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, who announced the new name. 

“We have chosen the name Counterpart to celebrate the essence of our service – the trust, warmth, care and positive energy created when women connect and support each other.” said Dianne Hill, Manager of Counterpart. 

Rita Butera, Executive Director of Women’s Health Victoria has said, “We are delighted to unveil the new brand for our cancer service. Breast and gynaecological cancers have a major impact on Victorian women. We believe Counterpart – Women supporting women with cancer – tells women who we are and what we do, and puts peer support at the heart of the service. We know over time Counterpart will connect more  Victorian women with cancer to high-quality support and information.

New Stepping into Wellness programs announced

After running a number of successful programs last year, Counterpart is very pleased to announce two Stepping into Wellness gentle exercise programs starting in May. We are grateful to Pink Affair for their generous support.

 

The programs will run in Fawkner and Noble Park. Programs will run in other metropolitan locations later in the year.

Exercise has major benefits for women following cancer diagnosis and treatment. Our program can help to:

  • increase mobility and flexibility
  • learn specific exercises to help boost your energy levels
  • safely improve your range of movement
  • regain confidence in your body
  • have fun and connect with other women.

Stepping into Wellness is a six-week gentle exercise program run by a qualified instructor who has had breast cancer. The program is easy to understand and follow and will focus on stretching, resistance training, tai chi and general health.  You will not need any special clothing or equipment to attend.

Fawkner

The program will run weekly from Tuesday 22 May to Tuesday 27 June 2017. (Please note the day has been changed to Tuesday – we are sorry for any confusion this change may have caused.)

Registrations close Monday 15 May 2017.

Noble Park

The program will run weekly from Thursday 25 May to Thursday 29 June 2017.

Registrations close Thursday 18 May 2017.

 

To register or get more information, please call the Counterpart Resource Centre on 1300 781 500 or send an email to [email protected]  so we can post some registrations forms to you. Please note the closing dates listed under each program.

Official Launch of Bridge of Support at Sunshine Hospital

Photo of Natalie Suleyman, and other guests, with BreaCan staff and volunteers at the launch of Bridge of Support.

Natalie Suleyman (Member for St Albans), Meredith Carter (Chair of Women’s Health Victoria Board) and Charlie Donnelly (LUCRF Super CEO), with some BreaCan staff and volunteers.

BreaCan (now Counterpart)’s Bridge of Support program at Sunshine Hospital was officially launched on Monday 23 May, by Member of the Legislative Assembly for St Albans Natalie Suleyman. Western Health CEO Alex Cockram hosted the event, and LUCRF Super CEO Charlie Donnelly, Counterpart Manager Lee Kennedy and Western Health Senior Consulting Oncologist Dr Shirley Wong, all said a few words.

Coralie, a Counterpart Peer Support Volunteer from the Western suburbs who underwent her treatment for breast cancer at Sunshine Hospital, spoke about her experiences both as a patient and as a Peer Support Volunteer. Women’s Health Victoria Board Chair Meredith Carter closed the formal proceedings, thanking LUCRF Community Partnership Trust for funding the two year project, and acknowledging the hard work and dedication of all those involved.

Bridge of Support at Sunshine Hospital is based on the successful Bridge of Support program that has been running at the Royal Melbourne Hospital since 2010. Through the program Counterpart, in partnership with Western Health, brings volunteers who have had a breast cancer experience into the hospital to provide emotional and practical support to women going through treatment.

BreaCan Year in Review 2014/15 is out now

Our Year in Review 2014/15 provides a snapshot of the work that we do. It includes stories from service users, highlights and achievements of the past year and information about programs we offer and projects we collaborated on. Highlights from this last year include: the Connecting and Supporting Rural and Regional Women with Cancer project that we initiated in partnership with Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service and Grampians Integrated Cancer Service; a new intake of peer support volunteers; participation in an Active and Well After Breast Cancer project in partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia and the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre; and the two free Stepping in to Wellness – Gentle Exercise programs that we were able to run, with the generous support of Pink Affair, in Melbourne’s west.

You can download the Year in Review as a PDF here. If you would like to request a hard copy, please email [email protected] or phone 1300 781 500.

Connecting and Supporting Rural and Regional Women with Cancer

Lat year, BreaCan launched a pilot project set to improve the availability of information and support to women affected by cancer in rural and regional areas of Victoria.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has funded the pilot project, after we showed a need for a greater level of support services for women affected by cancer in rural and regional areas of Victoria.

We’ll be working in partnership with the Integrated Cancer Services of Barwon South Western and Grampians to ask local services and community members how best to provide information and support to women affected by cancer. Our aim is to develop a model of information and support that can be rolled out across the regional and rural communities of Victoria.

BreaCan Manager Lee Kennedy says that the launch is a step towards a more supportive future for all Victorian women experiencing cancer.

“We understand that women who are diagnosed with cancer who live outside metropolitan Melbourne are less likely to have access to the support and information services they need.” she said.

“We’ll be working closely with local communities to make recommendations for a new model which will make a real difference to the lives of women living with cancer. This project also provides a fantastic opportunity for women who have experienced cancer to give back to their community,” she said.

More information or to register your interest please submit the form below.

BreaCan is currently working in partnership with the Barwon South Western Region Integrated Cancer Service and the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service on a project launched today. This pilot project will train local women and consult with communities and health professionals to develop a model for introduction across Victoria.

BreaCan at the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia Winter Congress 2014

BreaCan Manager Lee Kennedy attended the recent Cancer Nurses Society of Australia Winter Congress 2014. The conference was a great success with 500 cancer nurses from all over Australia coming together to learn, discuss, debate and reflect. It was great to hear from key note speakers about the importance of consumer participation and the variety of ways to hear patient voices. A special day long workshop on survivorship was also held in the lead up to the conference where the unmet needs of people with a cancer diagnosis were highlighted and strategies developed to respond at a system, organisational and individual level.

Lee was among those who presented papers, speaking on some of the learnings and opportunities from the recent Victorian Cancer Survivorship Breast Pilot Project.

Counterpart is a service of
Our other services and initiatives