Seminars and Workshops

AGSA has run a series of outreach seminars and sibling workshops for carers of someone with a genetic condition. The seminars provide an opportunity to access a variety of specialists relevant to the caring experience in a non clinical setting. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet other families who share a similar experience to your own. Sibling workshops provide an opportunity for kids with brothers or sisters with a genetic condition to meet others who understand the positives and negatives involved in living with a brother or sister with a disability.

If you would like to receive more information about our seminars and workshops, please fill in our online information request form.

Telecounselling Groups

Telegroup counselling, through a common phone line, provides an excellent way for carers to communicate when they are geographically, financially or socially isolated. Telegroup counselling is just like a conference call with two facilitators, Bronwyn Butler (Psychologist and Genetic Counsellor) and Laurie Taylor, and a maximum of six carers. So far we have had groups for female carers / mums and groups for male carers / dad's.

Each call lasts for one hour with one call per week for a period of eight weeks. If you would like to be involved, please fill in our online information request form.

Participants will be sent a questionnaire prior to the group starting to give an idea of the topics group members are interested in discussing, this programme will be flexible to allow for issues or topics which may arise through the course of the group.

If you would like to receive more information about our telecounselling groups, please fill in the online request form

Face to Face Counselling

Formed in 1992, SAFDA was a network of professionals who offered support and information for people who experienced the diagnosis of a problem in their unborn child. SAFDA was successful for 10 years and has fulfilled its aim of providing support after the diagnosis of a fetal abnormality. Due to an increased workload and the restructuring of services, SAFDA no longer exists. AGSA, whilst trying not to emulate SAFDA, has received funding to follow on SAFDA's work by providing counselling and, where possible, contact with other individuals in similar circumstances.

Counselling is held at AGSA, 66 Albion St, Surry Hills (walking distance from Central Station). Clients are eligible for 6 - 10 one hour sessions at no cost. All sessions are strictly confidential.

Please phone AGSA on (02) 9211 1462 for an appointment.