Caring and sharing is the core of a self help group.

Introduction:

Support groups have become an important adjunct to medical practice by providing services that traditionally have been poorly catered for within the health care system.

Thyroid Australia (Brisbane) has developed very extensive and specifically designed resource material filling a void and extending our support to a higher level. Improving the health and well being of many people suffering Thyroid and related conditions.  "To do All we can.....To do All we can."           The "Support Convener Data CD" is a data based reference library, compiled over many years of honest research covering the A to Z of Thyroid and related medical conditions.

The future of support structure that is built is entirely up to the support available. Therefore the existence and progression of the group belongs to the group.

Once realised there is support and knowledge for everybody attending the group, it has every chance of becoming self supportive.

A Support Group Is:

Thyroid Australia (Brisbane) support group is a place where people can come to improve the quality of their life, by being with others and learning to understanding more about their own existence living with a Thyroid condition, within a comfortable environment.

A support group is not :

*A Group Therapy Session: *A Counselling Session: *An excuse To Air Your Dirty Washing: *A place to practice medicine: *A place to practice alternative medicine: *An opportunity to get a mailing list to expand a franchise  or business: * A place to be insensitive to other peoples feelings and presence within the group.

Support groups can Help to:

   *Provide individual care and  support to people with Thyroid conditions and their families.

   *Collect practical information with regard to the availability and quality of medical and     government services.         

   *Lobby government agencies to improve funding for patient services.

   *Promote service delivery and research by raising funds

   *Increase community awareness of the plight of sufferers.

   *Provide access to information not previously common knowledge to patients.

Experience:

Experience has shown that support groups with over 8 or 10 regular members could have a second person to assist the convener other wise the group can get out of order and some attending may not get the chance they should to benefit from and to discuss their thoughts and feelings. Out of balance support groups lose members and disrupt other people in the group.

Cells with a host for  smaller numbers can be kept very informal for impromptu get together over coffee and a talk about common interests. If people want to get together and discuss what's happening in their lives between formal support group meetings this is the best way to do it.

Please consider hosting a small group:

Help others with your Thyroid condition and your self enjoy a better quality of life. This is a selfless act that is very rewarding to you and new friends you will make. Further information can be accessed by using the contact details below.  Please take full advantage of our web site. It has been created just for you.   

Extensive thyroid knowledge is not necessary, all that is needed is a caring attitude and a couple of hours of your time occasionally. We will provide you with the tools to host a small group............How you run your group activities - is entirely up to your self.

Please be cautious of support groups where:

Members of some support groups tend to include those with the most prolonged illnesses. Therefore some groups may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes of chronicity and disability. Depending on the nature of the groups,  may serve to increase alienation from medical and government agencies and encourage forms of treatment that lack scientific evaluation.

As we are not doctors any help or material support coordinators give to people is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice and that anything that requires medical opinion should be referred to a doctor.

Thyroid  Australia  (Brisbane)                  
PO  Box  5161                                                                                                                          Daisy  Hill  4127                                                                                                                             Queensland  Australia.

E-Mail  rick@yourthyroidandyou.org    Internet  http://www.yourthyroidandyou.org

"let us do all we can …………… to do all we can"