Peer Support is a service that gives people with the same or a similar condition the chance to connect one-on-one with someone with lived experience to share practical information, ideas and personal experiences. This is especially helpful if you are newly diagnosed as a Peer Supporter can help you to feel less isolated and to learn more about living with your condition.

Support Groups can be quite varied in structure and format. They may also be formal or informal, held face-to-face or online, or they may be condition-specific, age-specific or location-based. 

More specifically, local face-to-face support groups are organised and run by individuals in communities who we support by listing and promoting them on our website and social media, as well as providing guidance and support wherever possible. 

To find out what face-to-face support groups are available, please click on the following link: https://www.arthritis.org.nz/support-groups/. If you want to start your own support group in your area, please contact Arthritis NZ at 0800 663 463 or email: info@arthritis.org.nz. 

Online Support Groups are hosted and run by Arthritis NZ as a service to people living with arthritis. Join the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group here.

We also offer our monthly Zoom Cafe Meet-Up as another type of online support group. This group meets via Zoom on the last Thursday of every month except December to discuss or hear more about a specific theme. Find out what the next topic will be here.