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About

Peer Support

The Mito Foundation facilitates free peer support for the mitochondrial disease (mito) community. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can help you feel supported and empowered.

What is peer support?

Peer support is about sharing strengths, learning from each other, and building connections as equals. It creates a safe space to be open and honest through shared experiences.

Our Peer Support Network connects you to one-on-one support with a member of the mito community with relevant lived experience. Our Peer support volunteers are there to listen, provide support, and share their knowledge. They can help you consider different options, develop strategies, and sometimes feel more confident.

Request support

Two women smile while holding colorful drawings at a table with art supplies. A Mito Foundation banner is in the background.

Why peer support?

Research shows that peer support helps build resilience, find encouragement, and celebrate your strengths as you manage mito.

Peer support volunteers are there to listen, provide support, and share their knowledge. They can help you consider different options, develop strategies, and sometimes feel more confident.

Speaking with Laura and a peer support mentor, people who truly believe me and get it, has been such a gift. I’m incredibly grateful to them and the Mito Foundation for their support, especially while navigating this without family support.

— Adult with mito, 2025

I would say it's a great opportunity to get to know others like yourself. People that understand what you're going through and can give advice, listen to you with genuine understanding, and just have a fun chat if that's what you're after.

— Adult with mito, 2023

How does it work?

You contact us, and we connect you with a peer support volunteer with similar experiences. Our fantastic volunteers all have lived experiences with mito. Both one-on-one and group support are available.

Hi. I'm Laura, part of the Mito Foundation team.

In 2016, I heard the words, “You have mitochondrial disease,” and my world shifted. Mito doesn’t define me. It has helped me discover my strength and the incredible power of community.

Living with a chronic condition means support isn’t just nice to have, it’s vital. My community lifted me through the hardest moments and cheered me on as I crossed The Bloody Long Walk finish line and zip-lined from green bridges to raise awareness of mito. Family support means everything, but connecting with peers, the people who simply understand, has made all the difference.

We’re here for each other. Together, we’re stronger.

Ways to connect

Choose what works best for you:

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One-on-one
support

If you prefer a personal connection, we can match you with someone who understands your journey. Complete the webform, or contact our Helpline on 1300 977 180.

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Group
support

Meet others in the mito community at a Mito Meet-up or Mito Social event. These gatherings are a great way to share experiences and build friendships.

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Online
support

Join our Facebook group Mito Support Community or Mito Support Community for Mito Families to stay connected, ask questions, and support each other from anywhere.

Request support

Peer Support Request

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Company

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Please fill in your details below to request peer support:

Name

First Last

Email*

Mobile*

Do you have a connection to mito?*

I have mito

My child has/had mito

My partner has/had mito

My parent has/had mito

My sibling has/had mito

My grandchild has/had mito

My grandparent has/had mito

My other family has/had mito

My friend has/had mito

I am a medical professional

I am a researcher

I have no connection to mito

I have an other connection to mito

Other Connection to Mito

Your Peer Support Request:

I am seeking support for*

myself

my child

my partner

my family member

my friend

other

Short description of your request*

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By submitting this form, you acknowledge and consent that your information will be collected, stored and used in accordance with Mito Foundation's privacy policy.

Interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer?

For more information on becoming a group host or a Peer Support Mentor, contact us peersupport@mito.org.au.

Contact us

Call Mito Foundation's Helpline for more information or assistance on

1300 977 180

Please note the Helpline is available Monday to Friday, excluding NSW public holidays.

Submit your Helpline request online

Immediate support

If you or someone you know needs emergency assistance, please call emergency services on

000

Mental health support

This page shares information and resources to help you find mental health support that works for you.

Access mental health support

Send us feedback about this resource

At the Mito Foundation we strive for continuous improvement and want to ensure the online resources we provide continue to help improve the lives of people impacted by mitochondrial disease (mito). When we discuss 'you' or 'your' in this survey, we are including your child, family member, or friend living with or impacted by mito. By sharing your experience and answering the questions below, you contribute to shaping better resources for yourself and others. Thank you.

Relating to the online resource you have just viewed, please rate the following:
- 1. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor knowledge, and 5 is all the knowledge you feel you need), how would you rate your knowledge?
- Before you viewed the resource
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- Knowledge (Before resource)
- After you viewed the resource
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- Knowledge (After resource)
- 2. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor confidence and 5 is all the confidence you feel you need), how would you rate your confidence?
- Before you viewed the resource
  0
- Confidence (Before resource)
- After you contacted the Helpline
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- Confidence (After resource)
- 3. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor wellbeing, and 5 is what you feel your wellbeing should be), how would you rate your wellbeing?
- Before you viewed the resource
  0
- Wellbeing (Before resource)
- After you viewed the resource
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- Wellbeing (After resource)
- 4. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor access to the services you need, and 5 is you have access to the services you feel you need), how would you rate your access to services:
- Before you viewed the resource
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- Access (Before resource)
- Your understanding to access services you may need after you viewed the resource
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- Access (After resource)
Commitment Score Total
Do you have any suggestions or feedback for improving our online resources?
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"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Mobile*

Do you have a connection to mito?*

I have mito

My child has/had mito

My partner has/had mito

My parent has/had mito

My sibling has/had mito

My grandchild has/had mito

My grandparent has/had mito

My other family has/had mito

My friend has/had mito

I am a medical professional

I am a researcher

I have no connection to mito

I have an other connection to mito

Other Connection to Mito

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Bloody Long Walk

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Peer Support

What is peer support?

Why peer support?

How does it work?

Hi. I'm Laura, part of the Mito Foundation team.

Ways to connect

One-on-one support

Group support

Onlinesupport

Request support

Peer Support Request

Please fill in your details below to request peer support:

Your Peer Support Request:

Interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer?

Contact us

Immediate support

Mental health support

Send us feedback about this resource

1. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor knowledge, and 5 is all the knowledge you feel you need), how would you rate your knowledge?

2. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor confidence and 5 is all the confidence you feel you need), how would you rate your confidence?

3. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor wellbeing, and 5 is what you feel your wellbeing should be), how would you rate your wellbeing?

4. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor access to the services you need, and 5 is you have access to the services you feel you need), how would you rate your access to services:

One-on-one
support

Group
support

Online
support