Support Group Guidelines
Cancer Australia has developed new informative resources to help organisations form and maintain cancer support groups:
The resources support the development, quality management and evaluation of support groups by providing information about:
- the role of support groups/networks;
- innovative ways to support people affected by cancer (particularly people with poor health outcomes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people in rural and remote areas; rare cancers etc);
- types of support networks;
- governance structure;
- involving consumers;
- strategies to ensure sustainability of support networks;
- communication and interpersonal skills requirements;
- facilitator/leader training;
- support group outcomes;
- evaluation;
- self care for facilitators and other participants of support groups/networks; and
- useful internet links.
The resources supplement or enhance existing resources. Cancer Australia contracted Health Issues Centre in Victoria to produce these resources after a report from the Project Steering Committee, which included nominees from our National Consumer Advisory Group, Cancer Voices Australia, The Cancer Council Australia and state and territory Cancer Council representatives.