New hub supports women with cancer

CONNECTING with others who understand your experience can be life-changing for people living with cancer, and a new support service opening in Geelong will help more women do just that.

The new Counterpart Geelong Peer Support Hub opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday this week with a morning tea for more than 25 people, ahead of its official opening later in August.

From this month, the hub will meet each month at the Eastern Hub Geelong.

The hub gives women living with cancer the opportunity to meet with local volunteers who are trained to provide peer support for women and gender diverse people (and their carers). All volunteers have a lived experience of cancer and understand the range of issues people face post-diagnosis.

Counterpart manager Cindy Van Rooy said the Geelong peer support hub is the first for Victoria, and had already received strong support from local health organisations.

“We have been working with women who have a lived experience of cancer in the Geelong area, the Andrew Love Cancer Centre and the Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service to develop the hub.

“We’re so happy to provide this free service for people in the broader Geelong region..

“Our next hub day will be on Tuesday, August 26 from 10.30am, here at the Eastern Hub in McKillop Street again, and we look forward to welcoming women and gender diverse people at any stage of their cancer experience.”

Counterpart’s peer support hub project is supported by the Victorian government to assist women who have, or had, any type of cancer and their partner, family or friends.

Bookings are not required, and anyone can come along for a morning tea and a chat at the monthly hubs.

To find out more about Counterpart’s other services, head to counterpart.org.au