Family Support Groups
Please note: Some of these groups are supported by Autism SA while others are run by members of the community. We recommend contacting the individual or organisation facilitating the group to discuss whether it fits your needs. For further information, please call the Autism SA Info Line on 1300 288 476.
Northern metro
Para Hills West Primary School
Small group of parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Morning tea provided.
Meets: Thursday 9:15am – 11:15am once a term
Venue: Para Hills West Primary School
Contact: Vilma Jurkovic 0403 961 331
Creche: Parents can bring their children as the group runs in a room with toys
Autism/Asperger Family Support Group
Provides support to carers who care for a family member with autism or Asperger syndrome. They meet to discuss the highs and lows of caring as well as enjoying guest speakers, outings, pamper days and lasting friendships. On alternate fortnights the group meets unfacilitated for coffee and a chat at Northern carers Network.
Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month from 9.30am - 11.30am
Venue: Northern Carers, 15/130 Peachy Road, Davoren Park
Contact: Chris or Finola at Northern Carers Network on 8284 0388
Respite: Available
Website: www.ncnw.org.au
Family Connections: 3 Groups
Supporting families with children on the ASD spectrum through understanding and information.
For all Groups Contact: Felicity Bylhouwer 0417 858 901
Website: www.familyconnectionssa.net
Meets: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 9:30am – 11:30am
Venue: Surrey Downs Community Centre, 6 Zanoni Cres, Surrey Downs
Creche: Occasional Care available in the Centre
Meets: 1st Monday of the month, 7:15pm - 9:00pm
Venue: Sunnybrook Community House, Sunnybrook Drive, Wynn Vale
Meets: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:15pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Sunnybrook Community Centre, Sunnybrook Drive, Wynn Vale
Bring: Gold coin donation
Kidz Konnection
Group for boys with Asperger syndrome aged 6 – 12 years. There are semi-structured activities for the children. Children must be accompanied by their parent or carer. Parents/carers are given the opportunity to network and provide support to each other.
Meets: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Venue: Jubilee Way Community Centre, Cnr Jubilee Way & Grenfell Road, Wynn Vale
Bring: Gold coin donation
Contact: Jodie 0417 561 073
Website: www.familyconnectionssa.net
Parents with Attitude 100%
Support network for parents/families of students in the Gawler/Barossa district who have children diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome
Meets: time and day varies
Venue: Room 5, Evanston Gardens Primary School, 71 Angle Vale Road, Evanston Gardens
Contact: Bronnie Whitelaw 8522 2082 or 0422124734
Central and western metro
Western Area Support Group
The Western Area Suport Group is for carers of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The aim is to provide support, share information and help parents and carers develop networks.
Meets: 1st Monday of the month at 7.30pm
Venue: Bower Cottages, 200 Bower Road, Semaphore Park
Contact: Zoe Sandell on 8242 7010 or zsandell@internode.on.net
Coffee and Chat Group
The Coffee and Chat Group is for carers of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The group meets in an informal cafe setting and aims to provide support, share information and help parents and carers develop networks.
Meets: every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 9.30am-11.00am
Venue: Cafe Komodo, 118 Prospect Road, Prospect
Contact: Karolina on 0417 851 044 or k_concepts@hotmail.com
Parent Support Group for Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Informal support group for parents of young adults with Asperger syndrome 16 years and over.
Meets: 1st Monday of the month, 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start
Venue: Astor Hotel, Corner Gilles and Pulteney Streets, Adelaide, 5000
Contact: Robyn Copeland 8379 2117
Fidgits
A western suburbs autism and Asperger's parent/carer support group. Come and meet other parents and carers in a safe and caring environment.
Meets: Fortnightly on a Tuesday 9:30 – 11:00 am
Venue: St. Peters Lutheran Church, corner Railway Terrace & Gedville Road, Taperoo
Cost: Gold coin donation
Phone: Debra Barker 0488 649 847 to book.
Free childcare available by prior arrangement.
Adelaide Hills
Hills ASD Parent Support Group
Open to any parents of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Adelaide Hills region. Sessions currently consist of a range of guest speakers for the first hour and the second hour is for parents to share a coffee and talk with each other and share resources. A program of guest speakers can be obtained by contacting Disability SA on the phone number below.
Meets: 4th Thursday of the month, 9:30am – 11:30am
Venue: Mt Barker Connected Service Centre, 23 Mann Street, Mount Barker (Old Council Building)
Bring: Voluntary small change towards morning tea
Contact: Vikki Mott (Senior Developmental Programmer-Autism) or Laura Kelly (Disability SA Child and Youth Team) on 7424 7888
Southern / Fleurieu / Mallee
Southern Family Connections
An informal support group welcoming parents/carers of children and adults who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Meets: 1st Monday of each month 10:00am - 12:00noon
Venue: Woodcroft Tavern, corner Bains and Panatalinga Roads, Woodcroft
Bring: Please bring a gold coin donation for morning tea
Contact: Moira McMillan 0428 882 347 pmmcmil@bigpond.net.au and Michelle Goldfinch 0422 654 747 shellygold@optusnet.com.au
Victor Harbor Tulips
Tulips began as a group of mums chatting in the school car park. Each knew the value of supporting, sharing and networking with other families. Meetings began as informal get-togethers, and soon evolved into sharing or disseminating information. Gradually the idea of a group formed, a name was chosen and a loose structure planned. “Tulips” was chosen from the article about Holland, which likens raising a child with a disability as having arrived unexpectedly in Holland when a trip to Italy was planned. This was the article shared at our first formal meeting and is on our website. Although Tulips began at Encounter Lutheran School, and is supported by the school, it is not exclusive in any way. It is not limited to ASD families although the majority have this diagnosis.
Meets: 3 times a term. One coffee session, one information session with a speaker and one social gathering. Day and time changes to meet needs of the group. Usually Thursday afternoons 1.00pm or 1.30pm
Venue: Various. Coffee and chat is usually at McCracken Country Club and information sessions are at the school library.
Contact: Trish Walker 8552 8880, 0419 861 196
Sue Zitterbart 0409 523 392
Website: www.tulipssa.com (emails to Trish and Sue can be sent via the website by clicking on 'contact us' on the top right hand corner and clicking on the link of either Trish or Sue to bring up the email form).
Safari
Parent support group for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Aldinga and surrounding areas. Proactive in areas of services for ASD children and their families.
Meets: 1st Thursday of the month, 1:00pm – 3:00pm (not in the school holidays)
Venue: Centacare – corner Quinliven and How Roads, Aldinga
Contact: Dawn at Centacare 8557 9050
Creche: No, but kids are welcome with parents
Far South Carer Support Group
Meets: The second Saturday of every month from 10:00am until 12:00noon.
Venue: Market 190, 190 Main Road, McLaren Vale
Contact: For further information please call Meridith or Sally on 8379 5777.
For further information on groups run by Carers Support and Research Centre Inc. please click here.
Parents Supporting Parents
For parents and carers of children aged 0-6 diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or who believe that their child may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder living in the Murray Mallee Region. We hope that this will provide an opportunity to discuss the joys and challenges of raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Snacks will be provided.
Meets: please phone to confirm day and time
Venue: Ngargi Wal, 25 Joyce St, Murray Bridge, 5253 (behind the hospital)
Contact: Maggie Georgiou or Mandy Mabarrack on 8532 4503
Creche: Is available but please phone to advise
Parent Support Group for Parents of School-Aged Children
For parents and carers of school-aged children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder living in the Murray Mallee Region.
Meets: 6:30pm last Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, December
Venue: Disability SA, 6 Verdun Road, Murray Bridge
Contact: Maggie Georgiou on 8532 4503 or Kelly Scache on 8569 2114
Yorke
A Team - Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group
A group for parents, carers and grandparents offering support, information who link together and have some fun!
Meets: Once a month on a Thursday at 12:00noon
Venue: At various locations on the central Yorke Peninsula
Contact: For further information, please phone Joyce Adolph at Carers Link on 8821 2444.
South East
South East Support Group
This support group is for families in the South East of South Australia, particularly the Meningie area down through Mount Gambier.
Contact: Colleen Moore, Regional Coordinator of South East Carers on 8724 7188.
ASDSouthEast.org
Online networking and mutual support for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mount Gambier and the south east of South Australia. Online forums are open to everyone in South Australia.
Contact: www.asdsoutheast.org
Mid-North and Eyre
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope is a support group run by parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder which provides support and understanding to parents and extended family members and carers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Meet: 1st Thursday of the month at 12.30pm
Venue: Boston Hotel, Port Lincoln
Contact: For more information contact Melissa Poole 8682 6449, Marianne Stockham 8685 6152 or Lisa Henderson 8682 2689 or send an email to smjkpo4@bigpond.net.au
ASPAUT Group: Aspergers / Autism Support Group
Links parents and carers of children and young people with ASD with other parents and the community to increase knowledge and understanding.
Meets: 2nd Thursday of the month, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Venue: Saddleworth Early Learning Centre, Saddle Road, Saddleworth, unless otherwise advised. Although Saddleworth ELC is our home base we have the group in different venues across the Lower North Region responding to the needs of the group.
Bring: Lunch to share
Contact: Kate Jenkins, Yorke and Lower North Health 8842 6500 or jenkins.kate@saugov.sa.gov.au
Creche: as needed
Port Pirie Autism Support Group
The Autism Support Group is for parents and carers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The group aims to provide information, advocacy, training, and support for paretns and carers and strives to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the community.
Meets: 6 weekly on a Thursday 5.00pm - 6.30pm Contact Port Pirie Regional Health Service on 8638 4693 for meeting dates
Venue: Mid North Education Centre, David Street, Port Pirie
Contact: Early Intervention Coordinaotr, Port Pirie Regional Health Service on 8638 4693
Creche: Yes ring 8638 4693 to book
Autism/Special Needs Support Group
The Autism Support Group was established in December 2006. The group is an avenue to resource support and information. The group includes all families with children with special needs.
Meets: Quarterly 6:00pm-8:00pm
Bring: Savoury or meal to share
Venue: Early Years Parenting Centre, 1 Striling Road, Port Augusta
Contact: Sharon Allport on (08) 8648 5800
Creche: Yes
Peterborough Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group
For parents and carers of children on the Autism Spectrum and other interested people. Group members advocate for issues affecting their children and raise the profile of parents and children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to the broader community.
Meets: Meets bi-monthly for formal meetings and alternate months for networking meetings Tea and coffee provided.
Venue: UCWPP building Main Street, Peterborough
Contact: Jenny Perrott 8651 2666 or 8651 0400 / jenny.perrott@ucwpp.org.au or jenny.perrott@health.sa.gov.au
Creche: Yes
Young Children with ASD - Port Lincoln
Support group for parents, grandparents and carers of young children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Meets: varies – generally on a Monday at 10:00 am, every 4 – 6 weeks
Venue: Child Youth and Women’s Health, Civic Centre, Port Lincoln, 5606
Contact: Marni Enright at Disability SA (75 Liverpool St, Port Lincoln) 8683 0499
Creche: Is available but please phone to advise
Eastern Eyre Support Group
For families, friends and carers of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or other disability. Marnie Enright from Disabilty SA will facilitate the discussions.
Meets: Day and time to be arranged - starting 2 Feb 2010
Venue: Arno Bay Hotel Motel, Tel El Kebir Terrace, Arno Bay
Contact: Jen Grenfell 0427 380 004
Creche: Is available but please phone to confirm
Community Based Groups
Cassandras
This group provides an opportunity for partners of people with Asperger syndrome to share their experiences. The aim of the group is to offer support and information sharing.
Meets: First Monday of the month 7:00pm-9:00pm
Venue: Eastwood Community Centre, 95 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood (walk through the gate on the right hand side of the building and enter via the door at the back)
Cost: Gold coin donation
Contact: Heike Haffer on 0431 039 136 or heikehaffer@hotmail.com
Grandparents Group
The aim of this group is to offer support to grandparents who have a grandchild with a disability.
Meets: Once a month on the 1st Wednesday of the month
Contact: John and Denise Langton on 8261 4979
Adelaide_Autism - South Australian parents on-line support group
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/adelaide_autism
This is an on-line forum for South Australian parents with children having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parents are encouraged to share information on topics such as research, early interventions, biomedical, education, dietary needs, occupational, speech and behavioural therapies as well as their experiences. The overall theme is to promote better services and outcomes for all SA families. This group bridges two very interesting (general & biomed) parent support groups in Adelaide.