March 2, 2017
Many people in regional areas like the South Burnett are living with asbestos-related diseases in isolation because they have been unable to access support options available to them.
The Asbestos Diseases Support Society (ADSS) is is now running a state-wide drive to connect with regional Queenslanders who suffer from diseases they have contracted through working with or handling asbestos.
They also want to meet their carers, families and friends.
A team of ADSS specialists will be in Kingaroy next Tuesday (March 7) to meet with affected locals and set up a community support network.
ADSS Chief Executive Officer Amanda Richards said it was important to let people affected by asbestos diseases know there were other people living in their own communities who were going through the same issues.
“There is a general feeling among people who have asbestos-related respiratory disease that they are isolated and alone,” she said.
“They don’t know that there are others in their community who are going through the same experiences they are dealing with.
“They could be fellow sufferers, the spouses of sufferers, or people who have helped others who have had the disease.
“We want to bring them together. We want to let them know they are not alone.”
ADSS will be hosting a public morning tea at Kingaroy RSL between 10:00am and 11:30am.
A team of support staff, including a social worker and a lawyer with asbestos diseases experience, will be at the morning tea to advise sufferers and help people navigate government and other support services.
Sufferers, carers, families, friends or anyone with an interest in helping people live with asbestos diseases are welcome to attend.
To RSVP or for more information, call ADSS on 1800 776 412.
