Support Groups

About TNA Australia Support Groups

Support Groups are the backbone of our organisation because they allow sufferers to meet and gain access to help and hope.

In 2000 the inaugural Support Group was formed in Sydney, prior to the incorporation of our organisation in 2003. The idea was offer to provide information, support and encouragement to people afflicted with trigeminal neuralgia and other facial pains, as well as to help their families and friends understand this medical disorder. Knowledge is power and understanding can be the greatest support.

In 2022 ten Support Groups affiliated with our organisation, are spread across South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. A Support Group once operated out of the ACT.  In the west a number of sufferers formed a separate incorporated body, Trigeminal Neuralgia Western Australia. Why ten groups?  Why not more?  If you don’t have a Support Group in your area what can you do to get one going?  Email on  members@tnaaustralia.org.au  to express an interest, ask some questions and have a chat about Support Groups and all the possible options for you or another person to get one underway.

Ten areas of Australia have  a Support Group Leader who connects with the sufferers in their own geographic area. From time to time each Leader organises either a face-to-face or an online (Zoom) meeting in/from a central location and all sufferers, their carers and friends in that area or region are invited to attend.  Occasionally a specialist, in a medical or dental field that is relevant to trigeminal neuralgia, joins the meeting and shares his or her expertise and encourages questions. On other occasions, a video might be screened showing various treatments and surgeries.  Alternatively, sufferers might, one by one, share their memories about when their pain started, how they were diagnosed, and which treatments they have tried. On all occasions these meetings are very informal so that everyone can get the most out of them. And no-one is expected to speak if they are in pain or shy.  The meetings are safe places for learning, and sharing information.

In addition to running gatherings,  Support Group Leaders talk with sufferers and their carers by phone, communicate with text messages, via one-on-one online Zoom meetings and through email exchanges, depending on the circumstances and the needs of individuals.

The Objective of our Support Groups is to provide information, support and encouragement to sufferers, their families and supporters. Our Mission is to promote awareness of trigeminal neuralgia and other facial pain amongst patients, families, the community and the medical and dental professionals who treat them. Our Goal is to encourage a unified understanding and improved approach to treatments of Trigeminal Neuralgia and other facial nerve pains at a local, state and national level and to improve treatments and approaches to pain management. Our Vision is to improve the quality of life and treatment of chronic facial pain sufferers locally, nationally and internationally.

Admission to ALL support group meetings is FREE. A donation at the door is always appreciated.

If you haven’t made contact with a Support Group Leader, I recommend you check the list below and send an email or give one a call – for a phone chat to gather trigeminal neuralgia related information or to find out about a meeting. If there isn’t one in your area email members@tnaaustralia.org.au and ask about how one might be established somewhere around you.

“you are not alone”

Upcoming Support Group Meetings

Due to Covid19 restrictions regular support group meetings may be cancelled or postponed please check with your support group leader to confirm the status of the meeting. Known cancellations have been removed from the Events list below.