Who is eligible for peer support?
We can provide peer support to women who:
- are in Victoria
- have had cancer
- are at any stage: diagnosis, treatment, after treatment, or living with advanced/metastatic cancer.
Our services are free.
We can also arrange an interpreter for peer support in your own language.
How can I speak to a Peer Support Volunteer?
- By phone
- In hospital
- At our Melbourne Peer Support Hub
- At our Geelong Peer Support Hub
- At our events and activities.
By phone
Most of our peer support takes place by phone, so you can speak to a volunteer from wherever you are in Victoria.
You are welcome to contact us directly to arrange peer support or you can be referred by a health professional. You can request for a Peer Support Volunteer to contact you:
- via our peer support request page
- by calling us on 1300 781 500.
Our phone line is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am–5pm, with peer support available between 10am–2pm (excluding public holidays). If our phone is busy or unattended, please leave a message and we will call you back.
In hospital
Our Peer Support Volunteers regularly visit several hospitals in Melbourne through our Bridge of Support program. Keep an eye out for them in their orange vests.
We visit the following hospitals weekly:
- Sunshine Hospital – every Wednesday
- Royal Melbourne Hospital – Every Thursday
- Royal Women’s Hospital – Every Thursday
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Melbourne) – For women living with breast and gynaecological cancers, every Thursday
Please let the nurse unit manager, clinical nurse coordinator, or your cancer nurse specialist (such as your breast care nurse) know if you’d like to speak with a Peer Support Volunteer.
At our Melbourne Peer Support Hub
Our Melbourne Peer Support Hub is located on the 8th floor at 255 Bourke Street, Melbourne, near the corner of Bourke and Swanson Streets.
The Hub is a friendly space, away from the clinical environment, where you can:
- talk with our Peer Support Volunteers
- get information from our staff and volunteers
- attend an event, and connect with other women who have experienced cancer
- drop by for a chat and a cup of tea.
Our Peer Support Hub is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am–5pm, with Peer Support Volunteers available between 10am–2pm (excluding public holidays).
At our Geelong Peer Support Hub
Trained and local Peer Support Volunteers are available for a chat at our Geelong Peer Support Hub. These Hub drop-in sessions are held monthly.
To find out more about the dates and location of the monthly Hub sessions:
- visit our events page
- call us on 1300 781 500.
At our events and activities
Our Peer Support Volunteers are available for a chat at our in-person events and activities. They also often attend our online events.
Our free events and activities include:
- Creative and wellness workshops – activities like art, meditation and gentle movement
- Morning teas – for women with metastatic or advanced cancer to connect and build community with others who understand your challenges
- Wellbeing days – which are held across Victoria
- Information sessions and webinars – led by experts on cancer care, treatment and wellbeing in a safe and supportive environment.
To find out more about upcoming events and activities:
- visit our events page
- call us on 1300 781 500
- join our mailing list
- follow us on facebook and LinkedIn.
Refer a patient
Health professionals can refer a patient using our referral form.
