We recently came across Too Good To Go, an app that connects people with surplus food from local cafes, bakeries, restaurants and other food businesses at reduced prices.

It could be worth exploring for peer support groups looking to make a small budget stretch a little further.

How does Too Good To Go work?

Participating businesses list Surprise Bags containing food that would otherwise go to waste. Through the app, you can see what is available nearby, reserve and pay for a Surprise Bag, then collect it during the business’s nominated pickup time.

Too Good To Go says food available through the app is offered at half the usual price or less. The service launched in Perth in 2025 and includes participating bakeries, cafes, restaurants, grocery stores and other food businesses.

Could it work for your group or organisation?

For peer support groups and other not-for-profit organisations working with limited funds, it could provide another option when you would like to have food available at a meeting, activity or informal gathering.

Because these are Surprise Bags made up of surplus food, you generally won’t know exactly what you will receive. Availability also depends on participating businesses in your area and what surplus food they have on the day. Collection times are also set by each business.

That means it may not suit every occasion, particularly where you need specific quantities or need to accommodate particular dietary requirements. But for a flexible group gathering, it could be a useful option to keep in mind.

Alike WA is sharing this resource as information that may be useful to peer support groups. This is not a sponsored post or endorsement, and availability varies by location.

The post Looking for a lower-cost way to provide food at your next group gathering? appeared first on Alike WA.

Hosted by the Shire of Mundaring, the Marketing & Profile Building for Community Groups workshop will help participants think more strategically about who they want to reach and how to communicate with them.

What the workshop will cover

Rather than trying to reach everyone or maintain a presence across every platform, the session will encourage groups to focus their efforts where they can have the greatest impact.

Participants will explore:

• who their group is trying to reach and what they want people to do
• how to develop clear and engaging messages
• where to promote those messages
• ways to strengthen their group’s profile and recognition.

Participants will apply the ideas to their own organisation during the workshop, with the aim of leaving with a simple and practical marketing plan they can put into action.

Who is it for?

The workshop is suitable for community groups, clubs, associations, committees and volunteers involved in promoting their organisation, attracting members, finding volunteers or increasing participation.

This may be a useful opportunity for peer support groups in Mundaring and surrounding areas looking for practical ways to increase awareness of their group and connect with more people in their community.

Workshop details

Marketing & Profile Building for Community Groups
Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: 6.00pm–8.00pm
Location: Bendigo Room, Mundaring Arena
Cost: Free

The workshop is hosted by the Shire of Mundaring, with Community Station delivering the session.

Register for the free workshop →

Alike WA is sharing this external training opportunity for the information of peer support groups and community organisations. Please refer to the event organiser for current details, availability and registration information.

Looking for more training?

Alike WA offers free workshops and training to help peer support groups build skills, strengthen their groups and feel more confident in their roles.

The post Free marketing workshop for community groups in Mundaring appeared first on Alike WA.

From peer support for people living with a rare condition, to connection for older people living with HIV and disability advocacy grounded in lived experience, we’re pleased to introduce our newest members.

HIVE

HIVE is a peer-led social and support group for people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 55+.

The group provides opportunities to connect with others, share experiences and reduce isolation, while also advocating for positive change around ageing and HIV.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) WA Support Group

The Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) WA Support Group is run by people with lived experience of PBC and an understanding of the challenges that can come with living with a rare condition.

Based in Perth, the group provides a safe and welcoming space where people can share their experiences, raise concerns and seek support from others who understand.

Kin Disability Advocacy Inc

Kin Disability Advocacy Inc’s Community Ambassador Program supports people with lived experience of disability from culturally and linguistically diverse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds to become disability ambassadors within their communities.

The program focuses on empowering people to draw on their lived experience and contribute within their communities.

Connecting through peer support

The experiences that bring people to peer support are different, but having opportunities to connect with people who understand can make a meaningful difference.

We’re pleased to welcome HIVE, Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) WA Support Group and Kin Disability Advocacy Inc to the Alike WA community.

The post Meet our September members appeared first on Alike WA.

The Awards are a longstanding partnership between WACOSS and the Department of Communities, supported by Lotterywest. In 2027, WACOSS is also partnering with the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia (CASWA) across two award categories.

For peer support groups and organisations across WA, the Awards are an opportunity to recognise the people, programs, partnerships and community-led work creating positive change.

Nine award categories

The 2027 Awards include seven categories for organisations and two for individuals, covering organisations of different sizes as well as regional work, community-led collaboration, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and partnerships.

The individual categories recognise outstanding contribution and leadership within the community services sector.

Award categories include:

• Trailblazing Small Organisation: Catalysts of Community Innovation
• Standout Medium Organisation: Engines of Progress and Creativity
• Impactful Large Organisation: Powerhouses of Positive Change
• Remarkable Regional Organisation: Champions of Rural and Remote Innovation
• Visionary Community-Led Collaboration: Crafting Better Futures Together
• Dr Millie Penny AM Award: Outstanding Exceptional Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation
• Inspiring Partnership between an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation and a Community Services Organisation
• Outstanding Contribution: Going Above and Beyond
• Leadership Excellence: Inspiring Change and Innovation

Each category winner will receive $1,000 in prize money.

Making a nomination

Organisations and individuals must agree and consent to being nominated.

Nominations need to address the relevant selection criteria in 750 words or less, with the option to include supporting information such as photographs, testimonials or articles.

Organisations will also need to provide an income and expenditure statement as at 30 June 2026 and have their nomination approved by their Chairperson, President or an authorised delegate.

Before getting started, prospective nominators should review the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for their chosen category on the Community Services Excellence Awards website.

Nominations close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

Celebrating WA’s community services sector

Finalists and winners will be recognised at the Community Services Excellence Awards ceremony on Monday 3 May 2027 at Optus Stadium, held in conjunction with the biennial WACOSS Conference, Future Ready: People and Communities.

The Awards provide an opportunity to recognise the contribution of people and organisations working across WA communities and celebrate the work happening throughout the community services sector.

Learn more about the awards 2027 Community Services Excellence Awards.

The post 2027 Community Services Excellence Awards nominations now open appeared first on Alike WA.

Alike WA recently welcomed peer support group leaders, facilitators, members and volunteers to our Exploring Burnout & Activating Self-Care Workshop, facilitated by Romy Pritchard from RDP Enterprise Solutions.

The practical session explored stress, burnout and compassion fatigue, including some of the signs to look out for and factors that can contribute to feeling overwhelmed.

Participants were also encouraged to reflect on their strengths, values and boundaries, consider what genuine self-care can look like, and begin developing a realistic approach to self-care that works for them.

Taking time to reflect

A key focus of the workshop was making space to consider personal wellbeing alongside the care and support participants provide to others.

Feedback from the session highlighted the value of having practical information and strategies to take away, while also creating an opportunity to reflect on personal strengths, boundaries and the importance of self-care.

Participants also spoke about sharing what they had learned with their own families and support networks, extending the value of the workshop beyond the session itself.

Resources from the workshop

Several tools and resources were explored during the workshop. We’re making them available here for participants who would like to revisit them, and for others across the peer support community who may find them useful.

Self Motivation Quiz
This free online quiz from Richard Step was one of the activities completed during the workshop.

VIA Character Strengths Survey
Participants also explored the VIA Institute’s character strengths survey as an opportunity to reflect on their individual strengths.

Online Mental Health Supports for Adults
RDP Enterprise Solutions also shared a resource bringing together online mental health programs, community and support services, and mental health support lines. The handout includes services such as MindSpot, Mental Health Online, Lifeline and a range of Western Australian support options.

Please note: This resource was provided by RDP Enterprise Solutions as part of the workshop. Service information may change over time, so we recommend checking directly with individual services for current information. Sharing these resources is for information purposes and does not constitute an endorsement by Alike WA.

Supporting sustainable peer support

Peer support relies on people who bring their time, experience and care to their communities. Creating space to recognise our own needs, strengths and boundaries can be an important part of making that contribution sustainable.

Thank you to Romy Pritchard from RDP Enterprise Solutions for facilitating the workshop, and to everyone who joined us and contributed to the session.

The workshop formed part of Alike WA’s RGU Program, supporting people living with or caring for someone with a rare, genetic or undiagnosed condition, while also welcoming people from across the broader peer support sector.

The post Exploring burnout, self-care and sustainable peer support appeared first on Alike WA.

Alike WA is especially pleased to see two of our members among this year’s finalists: Radiance and Solaris Cancer Care.

Celebrating our members

Radiance is a finalist for the Innovation in Service Delivery Award, alongside Saint Pat’s, Peel Youth Pathways and MIFWA.

Radiance supports parents and families through the emotional challenges of early parenthood, providing opportunities for connection and peer support.

Solaris Cancer Care is a finalist for the Mentally Healthy Workplace Award, alongside Strong Minds Strong Minds, APM Group and Avivo.

Solaris Cancer Care provides support for people affected by cancer, including their carers and families, through services designed to support wellbeing throughout the cancer experience.

Congratulations to Radiance and Solaris Cancer Care, and to all the individuals and organisations named as finalists in this year’s Awards.

About the WA Mental Health Awards

The WA Mental Health Awards celebrate individuals, organisations and initiatives making a positive difference to mental health and wellbeing across Western Australia.

The 2026 finalists have been recognised across award categories including lived experience impact, innovation in service delivery, prevention and promotion, diversity and inclusion, education and mentally healthy workplaces.

Join the celebration

The awards will be held on Friday 9 October at the Duxton Hotel, Perth, with the winners announced during the awards ceremony and luncheon.

Tickets are now on sale for those who would like to join the celebration and recognise this year’s finalists.

The post 2026 WA Mental Health Awards finalists announced appeared first on Alike WA.

R U OK? has developed free resources to help people feel more confident starting a meaningful conversation with someone who may be struggling. The resources are designed for use in communities, workplaces and schools throughout the year.

For peer support groups, they may offer useful guidance for starting conversations, listening without judgement and knowing what to do when someone needs additional support.

Starting an R U OK? conversation

It isn’t always easy to know what to say when someone seems to be having a difficult time.

The R U OK? Conversation Guide provides practical tips for asking “are you OK?” and supporting someone when you notice signs that they may be struggling.

Download the R U OK? Conversation Guide

The four steps of an R U OK? conversation

R U OK? encourages people to follow four steps when checking in with someone: Ask, Listen, Encourage action and Check in.

A downloadable Four Steps poster provides a simple reminder that groups can refer to when talking about how to support meaningful conversations.

Download the Four Steps poster from R U OK?

Resources for community groups

The Community Starter Pack brings several resources together for community settings. It includes the Guide to Supporting R U OK?, Conversation Guide, email signature and posters.

This may be particularly useful for peer support groups wanting to share the R U OK? message with their members or use the resources as conversation prompts.

Explore the R U OK? Community Starter Pack

More resources to explore

R U OK? also provides posters, videos, presentation materials, activity planners and digital resources. Translated resources are available in a range of languages, including Arabic, Greek, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Hindi.

Explore all Ask R U OK? Any Day resources

When someone needs more support

Sometimes a conversation may lead to someone needing support beyond what a friend, family member or peer can provide.

R U OK? recommends encouraging the person to connect with their doctor, local health centre or an appropriate support service when additional help is needed. Their website includes contact details for Australian support services.

Find support services through R U OK?

Keep the conversation going

R U OK?Day can be a useful reminder to check in with the people around us. Meaningful conversations, however, can happen on any day.

For peer support groups built around shared experience and connection, these resources offer practical tools that can help people feel more prepared to start those conversations.

Source: Resources are developed and provided by R U OK? Alike WA is sharing them for information and community awareness.

The post R U OK? resources to support meaningful conversations appeared first on Alike WA.

Hosted by the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing, the conference brought together people from across the sector. This included government, academia, frontline services, Aboriginal leaders and lived experience advocates.

The day began with a Welcome to Country from Lois Dale May (nee Turvey). It was followed by a welcome from Dr Alison Evans, CEO of the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing, and an opening address from Hon. Meredith Hammat MLA, Minister for Health and Mental Health.

Janel and Tanzi attended on our behalf. They spent the day connecting with people from across the state and taking part in conversations about how communities and services can better support women.

Bringing peer support into the conversation

A highlight for us was seeing peer support included in the conference program.

Janel Wong from Alike WA joined Jasmyn Hutin from Orana House to present Beyond the System: How Peer Support Transforms Women’s Health. Their presentation formed part of the conference’s Lived Experience Leadership stream.

Together, they spoke about the positive impact peer support can have in women’s lives. They also explored the role of shared experience and community connection alongside formal systems of support.

For us, it was important to see peer support represented in conversations about women’s health equity. Peer support can help create spaces where people feel understood by others with shared experiences. It can also strengthen connection and belonging within communities.

Learning from lived experience

Throughout the day, speakers and participants shared lived experience, research and examples of initiatives working to improve women’s health and wellbeing.

It was valuable to hear directly from WA women about their experiences. We also learnt from work taking place across Australia.

For Janel and Tanzi, the conference was a chance to meet new people, exchange ideas and reflect on how organisations and communities can better support one another.

The day also reinforced the importance of listening to lived experience and making space for community-led approaches alongside formal services.

Continuing the conversation

The WA Women’s Health Conference created space for peer support to be part of broader discussions about health equity, access and community wellbeing.

We were pleased to contribute to that conversation and connect with people working across the sector to improve outcomes for women throughout Western Australia.

Thank you to the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing for bringing people together for the day, and to everyone who shared their knowledge and perspectives.

Learn more about the WA Women’s Health Conference

Next month we’ll be attending the Carer’s WA Conference at Optus Stadium, find out more.

The post Peer support and women’s health at the WA Women’s Health Conference 2026 appeared first on Alike WA.

As an Associate Partner of Act Belong Commit, Alike WA is pleased to share the campaign and its practical ideas for strengthening connection and belonging in our communities.

What is Social September?

Social September is a reminder that connection doesn’t always have to involve a big commitment or organised activity.

Throughout the month, Act Belong Commit is encouraging people to join in, reach out, include someone and keep it simple.

That might mean taking part in a local activity or online group, getting back in touch with someone you haven’t spoken to for a while, inviting someone to come along or simply making time for a conversation.

The message is particularly relevant to peer support. Shared experiences can create opportunities for people to connect with others who understand, while a welcoming group can provide a place where people feel included and able to participate in a way that works for them.

About Act Belong Commit

For more than 15 years, Act Belong Commit has encouraged people to take practical steps to strengthen their mental wellbeing.

Its approach is backed by research and centres on staying active, connecting with others and doing things that are meaningful.

Across Western Australia, more than 500 organisations are part of its Partnership Program, helping share the Act Belong Commit message and support mentally healthy communities. Alike WA is proud to be part of this network as an Associate Partner.

Act Belong Commit also offers an Activity Finder, where people can explore activities, clubs and other ways to get involved and connect with their community.

Find your way to connect this September

Social September is an opportunity to think about what connection looks like for you and the people around you.

It could be joining a peer support group or community activity. It might simply be reaching out to someone and making space for connection in your day.

Explore the Alike WA Directory to find out more about peer support groups and organisations in your area.

The post Social September: keeping connection simple appeared first on Alike WA.

Applications close Monday, 5 October 2026.

International Day of People with Disability is celebrated on 3 December each year. The 2026 WA theme is Valued. Included. Leading., recognising the importance of valuing the strengths, contributions and leadership of people with disability in our communities.

Who can apply?

The grants are open to community groups, not-for-profit organisations and local government authorities across Western Australia.

A total of $100,000 in funding is available, with grants of up to $1,250 awarded for initiatives and events that increase community awareness and understanding of the strengths and achievements of people with disability.

Organisations are strongly encouraged to involve people with lived experience in the planning and delivery of their events.

For peer support groups working alongside people with disability, this may be an opportunity to bring your community together, recognise lived experience and create an event shaped by the people it represents.

About International Day of People with Disability

International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations-supported day held annually on 3 December. It aims to increase awareness and understanding of people with disability while celebrating their achievements and contributions to the community.

This year’s WA theme, Valued. Included. Leading., highlights the role people with disability play in influencing change, contributing to their communities and leading in ways that are meaningful to them.

How to apply

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) is administering the 2026 grants.

Applications close Monday, 5 October 2026.

Find grant information and apply through Developmental Disability WA

Source: WA Government media statement. Grant details and eligibility should be checked with Developmental Disability WA before applying.

The next round of Alike WA’s Pay it Forward small grants open on 23 November, find out more on the Small Grants page.

The post Grants available for International Day of People with Disability 2026 events appeared first on Alike WA.