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Online Communities
In recent years, many people with MS have found online communities and email discussion groups to be a great source of information and support.
The following information provides details about several communities available to people with MS, both inside and outside Australia. It is by no means a comprehensive list - rather, it will provide you with a starting point if you want to seek support via the Internet.
MS Australia - ACT/NSW/VIC has worked collaboratively with the My Connected Communities Project to develop online communities for people with MS, their families, friends and carers, and also for health professionals, which operate through the mc² website
Peer Support Online Community
The MS Society Peer Support Program is for people with MS who would like to get in contact with another person with MS who understands their situation. Anybody with MS can participate in the Peer Support Program.
Communicating with others in a similar situation can help you to feel understood, supported and less isolated.
Currently the Peer Support Program has an online community where you can take part in a discussion using a chat room or email bulletin board (discussion group). A trained Peer Support Worker is available in the Peer Support chat room Monday to Friday between 8.30pm and 10.30pm.
Please remember that you need to register and apply to join the community to take part in discussions. If you wish to join any of the mc² communities, you will first need to register as a member of My Connected Communities. Then search for our communities on the site, under MS VIC.
For more information visit:
http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/mssvpeer/index.html
Australians with MS-online
This email discussion list was set up and is moderated by the Victorian MS Society's Information Line Coordinator, Louise Pearson.
The community forum is for Australians with MS, their families, friends, carers and health professionals. It is a forum for people to exchange information, ideas and support. Topics should be relevant to MS, but may include such things as supporting the newly diagnosed, discussions of symptoms, services people find helpful, current treatments, complementary therapies, research, upcoming events, etc.
While a Health Professional at MS Australia - ACT/NSW/VIC is the list-owner, the discussion topics are controlled by the list members themselves. The MS Society therefore takes no responsibility for views expressed here. You are advised not to change your treatment plan without first consulting your doctor.
While all new members are welcome, please remember to respect each other's opinions, and that flaming and the use of bad language is not acceptable.
For more information visit:
groups.yahoo.com/group/AustralianswithMS-online
To subscribe to this list send a blank e-mail message to:
AustralianswithMS-online-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Australian Multiple Sclerosis Online Community
This website includes chat room, discussion groups and news items, set up by Darin, from Sydney, who has MS, and encourages people from all over Australia to join.
For more information, please visit:
http://passingiton.info/ozmsers/
Friends With MS
This group aims to provide support and information for people with multiple sclerosis as well as their friends, family and caregivers.
Their website, friendswithms.com, has been online since 1999 and offers message boards, chat through Dreamchat, a singles chat room and voice chat. It is now the official Chat Site for the MS Association of America.
This is a user-friendly, moderated, interactive email discussion group. All posts should address MS only!
For more information visit:
www.friendswithms.com
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FriendsWithMS
To subscribe to this list send a blank message to:
FriendsWithMS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Carers Australia
Carers Australia is the peak national body representing and promoting the needs and interests of carers through: advocacy and leadership with government and the community, information and resource development, policy development and research and community education.
For more information visit:
Other support groups
Your State MS Society will have other support groups that you may like to be involved in. These might include: newly diagnosed groups, lifestyle groups, recreation groups, parenting groups, adolescent groups, carers groups and advocacy groups. Contact your local MS Society for details of local groups by calling MS Connect (1800 042 138).
If you have any MS related discussion group that you know about and is not listed here, please let us know about it by filling the form below, we value your input.
For further information please contact:
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Freecall MS Connect on 1800 042 138 |