Support groups

We provide face to face support groups in five capital cities as a way to connect women living with ovarian cancer across the country with each other. Support groups are open and are facilitated by staff and volunteers. All current support groups are in metropolitan locations and open to partners of women living with ovarian cancer.

Please note all support groups are still running, but some face to face groups are meeting online until further notice due to COVID-19.

Latest Support Events

Many women find meeting with other women in a similar situation helps them realise their responses are ‘normal’ and that other women are going through similar experiences.

Support groups can increase your feeling of control and make you feel less alone.

Support group participant

Attending support groups can also be a good opportunity to learn more about your own situation and strategies for dealing with the challenging times, but to also socially share the support of other women.  We are always extending the invitation for newly diagnosed women to join us, however the group is open to women at any stage of their cancer journey.

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New Support Groups

We will be introducing a new support group in South Australia as well as another support group for carers, family and friends. Both groups will initially be held via video conference (telehealth) with the South Australia group possibly becoming face-to-face later in the year.

To join these new groups, please express your interest by contacting our Helpline on 1300 660 334 (Weekdays, 9am – 5pm) or by emailing us on support@ovariancancer.net.au.

Tele Support

National phone based support for women newly diagnosed or for women with recurrence.

Ovarian Cancer Australia holds monthly national Tele-Support phone groups and is available for all women who have been touched by ovarian cancer. The group is also open to partners of women living with ovarian cancer.

The tele-support group is held on the third Monday of each month at 2pm (AET).

Our facilitated tele-support group meetings provide an opportunity for women to connect with other women experiencing a similar situation, gain information about diagnosis and treatment, and learn about other support options.

OCA provides this service to help reduce the isolation and distress felt by women diagnosed with ovarian cancer across Australia; as statistics show that women living in rural, remote and very remote areas find it far more difficult to access support and information.

The tele conference uses a toll free number which enables equity of access, regardless of where you live in Australia and the groups are facilitated by OCA Support team members and other health professionals.

Thank you for referring me through to your telesupport service, it has connected me to women who have walked a similar path to me and these sessions give me great comfort."

Tele Support Group Member

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Younger Women's Network

The OCA Younger Women’s Project is a series of 12 online facilitated support and information sessions, delivered monthly for 1.5 hours with approximately 5 – 8 women participating in each session with a health professional facilitator.

One of the most difficult things about having ovarian cancer as a young woman is the sense of isolation; feeling like the odd one out with the ‘wrong’ type of cancer and at the ‘wrong’ age. I am so excited about this new program because it will enable young women to connect with each other, and to access support that is both cancer-specific and age-appropriate. Nothing else like it currently exists, so this program will make a huge difference."

Laura 

Member of the Younger Women’s Network advisory group

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Teal Support Program

The Teal Support Program is a free telehealth outreach program supporting women with ovarian cancer throughout their diagnosis, treatment and beyond. The main aim of the program is to provide continuity of care when you are not regularly seeing your treating team and focus on areas of care where there are unmet needs through the support of your own ovarian cancer nurse.

I don’t know where I’d be without OCA. The support and information that I have been given is invaluable. You are just a number in a hospital but at OCA's Teal Support Program you have 1 on 1 with a nurse for as long as you need it."

Jennie

Member of Teal Support Program

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Male Partners Program

The Male Partners Program is a new development of Ovarian Cancer Australia and has resulted from emerging research undertaken by OCA and Monash University that identified unmet needs for male partners of women who have ovarian cancer.  Proudly supported by Dry July Foundation, this support program is here to support male partners of women with ovarian cancer.   

Online monthly support sessions take place throughout the year on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (AET).

“Everyone in the group has the same problems and issues I have. They all have different ways of coping with it and different ways of looking at it. It’s nice to have someone else say what they did especially if it would help me do something good for Sue.”

Larry 

Member of the Male Partner's Program

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