Support programs

Finding support for your macular disease journey

Often, when newly diagnosed or living with a macular disease, people can feel overwhelmed and anxious. MDFA’s macular disease support programs could be the answer.

Of course, you can always seek help from your eye health professional or a counsellor. But, for some, speaking with people who are on the same macular disease journey may be more comforting. If that’s you, a support group or peer to peer phone session could help you feel less alone and better understood.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia offers both peer to peer phone support and community support groups.

To enrol in either of the programs listed below, please contact MDFA. We also welcome expressions of interest for people wanting to set up a support group.

Mac Mates – peer to peer phone support

Sometimes you just need a friendly voice on the other end of the phone. Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s Mac Mates program provides just that.

We know that vision loss from macular disease can be quite isolating for people without a support network. 

Mac Mates will give you the opportunity to speak to and share experiences with one of our volunteers. They either have been living with vision loss themselves, or have a close friend or family member with macular disease. 

Mac Mates is not a counselling service. Our volunteers will not give out any disease information and any questions relating to macular disease will be transferred back to our education team. But they can share their life experiences and are great conversationalists!

To register for Mac Mates, please contact MDFA’s National Helpline on 1800 111 709 or send us an email.

Eye Connect – peer support groups

Macular Disease Foundation Australia runs a series of peer support groups for people with a lived experience of macular disease.  Groups meet face-to-face and online.

There are many benefits to joining a peer support group. Some of these include:

• Feeling less alone and better understood
• Sharing experiences and improving self esteem
• Keeping abreast of current medical research, treatment and support services
• Developing new friendships

The people in this program all have the same problem. We’re able to talk about how things are going for us and also share helpful tips that might help each other. It’s valuable just being able to talk freely with people in the same situation.

Current Eye Connect member

Find a support group

State	Location	Group type	Contact
WA	Willagee	People living with AMD	MDFA
WA	Stirling	People living with AMD	MDFA
WA	Cannington	People living with AMD	MDFA
NSW	Chatswood	People living with AMD	MDFA
Victoria	Brighton	People living with AMD	MDFA
QLD	Brisbane	People living with AMD	MDFA
Online	Via Zoom	People living with AMD	MDFA

Start an Eye Connect group

If you are interested in forming a macular disease peer support group in your area, MDFA can assist. We have practical advice for starting a group – including protocols and policies. We can supply welcome kits for new attendees plus assistance with promotion. MDFA can also help link your group to local eye health professionals and guest speakers.

For further information, contact MDFA on the National Helpline 1800 111 709 or via email.