Peer Connect

It can make all the difference to connect with someone who understands. This can be especially true if you live with a rare lung disease, as opportunities to meet others who live with the same condition may be limited.

To create opportunities for connection, Lung Foundation Australia offers a telephone-based peer matching service for people affected by Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF). The service offers one-on-one peer support by connecting two people who may have similar lived experiences. The service welcomes people living with a PF diagnosis, as well as offering peer matching for those who care for someone living with PF.

For more information or to join Peer Connect, complete the expression of interest form, or call our Information and Support Centre on the freecall number, 1800 654 301.

Upon your registration into the program, the Peer Connect Service Coordinator will review your details and aim to match you with a Primary Peer* with whom you may have a few things in common, such as:

• Similar management plans
• Living in the same region or state
• Similar family situations
• Diagnosis around the same time.

*A Primary Peer is a volunteer with Lung Foundation who has previously been involved with the service as a participant. Primary peers will be ready to listen to your experiences and will also share their own as part of mutual support.

Welcoming you to the service

All new participants receive a welcome pack upon joining the Peer Connect Service. This provides you with information about what to expect from the service and resources to support you throughout the peer match, including advice around self-care whilst in a mutual support role.

Primary Peers

Volunteering your time to become a Primary Peer and sharing your lived experience can offer significant value, both to you and the community of people who live with the same condition. If you wish to become involved in the service as a Primary Peer, Lung Foundation Australia will support you in this role. The Primary Peer welcome pack includes facilitation materials to guide you throughout the connection, as well as mental health and wellbeing resources to support you in a peer leader role.

Lung Foundation Australia acknowledges and values the contribution of volunteer Primary Peers. As part of our Peer Connect Service, Lung Foundation Australia is able to offer access to a short term, professional, confidential counselling service known as an Employee Assistance Program at no cost to Primary Peers.

To learn more, please contact the Peer Connect Service Coordinator.

In this video, John shares his own Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis story, discusses the benefits of peer support and his tips on maintaining self-care whilst in a Primary Peer role.