Support Resources
Please note that the following sites provide information that we think will help you in trying to find out about asbestos or asbestos related disease. However, while we think they are comprehensive and accurate you need to be aware that no website is perfect and that you should always check information against a variety of sources.
Links to Asbestos Related Diseases Support and Advocacy Organisations
VICTORIA
Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support Inc. (GARDS)
41 Monash Road
Newborough VIC 3825
Tel: 03 5127 7744
Fax: 03 5127 7744
Email: info@gards.org
Web: http://www.gards.org/
Contact: Vicki Hamilton
NEW SOUTH WALES
Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia Inc. (ADFA)
Suite 3, Ground Floor
133 Parramatta Road
Granville NSW 2142
Phone: (02) 9637 8759
Fax: (02) 9897 3259
Free Call: 1800 006 196
E-mail: info@adfa.org.au
Website: www.adfa.org.au
Asbestos Diseases Support Group, Wagga Wagga and District
PO Box 8190
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Contact (1): Inge Webster
Phone: (02) 6922 3826
E-mail: ingewebster@bigpond.com
Contact (2): Olga Seaman
Phone: (02) 6922 541
Bernie Banton Foundation (BBF)
PO Box 451
Castle Hill NSW 1765
Phone: (02) 8850 1223
Fax: (02) 8850 1233
E-mail: info@berniebanton.com.au
Website: www.berniebanton.com.au
Contact: Karen Banton CEO
Mobile: 0412 830 485
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Asbestos Diseases Society of SA Inc. (ADSSA)
30 Hurtle Square
Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8359 2423
Free Call: 1800 157 540
E-mail: admin@adssa-inc.com.au
Website: www.adssa-inc.com.au
Contact: Ian Sheppard
Mobile: 0403 914 663
Asbestos Victims Association (SA) Inc. (AVA-SA)
Level 3, 60 Waymouth Street
Adelaide SA 5000
PO Box 4066
Elizabeth South SA 5112
Phone: (08) 8212 6008
Fax: (08) 8212 7008
Free Call: 1800 665 395
Mobile: 0418 807 834
E-mail: ava-sa@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.avasa.asn.au
TASMANIA
Asbestos Free Tasmania Foundation Inc. (AFTF)
Cancer Council Building
180-184 Collins Street
Hobart TAS 7000
GPO Box 1624
Hobart TAS 7001
Contact: Simon Cocker
Phone: (03) 6233 7950
E-mail: simon@tbcitb.com.au
Website: www.asbestosfreetasmania.org.au
QUEENSLAND
Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Support Group (AMSG)
PO Box 1080
Coolangatta Qld 4225
Website: www.amsg.com.au
Contact: Nic Bos
Phone: (07) 5599 7876
Mobile: 0417 705 534
E-mail: nbos@westnet.com.au
Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society Inc. (QARDSS)
Level 6, Suite 70 Silverton Place
101 Wickham Terrace
Spring Hill QLD 4000
Phone Free Call: 1800 776 412
Fax: (07) 3832 7343
E-mail: asbestoshelp@westnet.com.au
E-mail: helen.maria@bigpond.com
Website: www.asbestos-disease.com.au
Contact: Ray Colbert
Mobile: 0408 758 963
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. (ADSA)
219 Main Street
Osborne Park WA 6017
PO Box 1394
Osborne Park WA 6916
Phone: (08) 9344 4077
Fax: (08) 9345 0422
Free Call: 1800 646 690
E-mail: adsinc@iinet.net.au
Website: www.asbestosdiseases.org.au
Contact: Robert Vojakovic
Mobile: 0417 175 24
Links to other useful information
Medical Information
The Australian Lung Foundation’s Multi-centre Clinical Trials Networks (MCTN)
Australia
Information about Asbestos in the Home, Safe Handling and Removal
Refer to the Info & Resources and also Awareness pages on this website for comprehensive information.
This Victorian Government website includes some useful material, including the Asbestos in the Home booklet (2003) and material about the responsibilities of local government:
www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/home/asbestos.htm
Asbestos is still present in many workplaces and buildings built before the mid 1980's. Large numbers of Australian workers are still being diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses, many years after they were exposed. Many of these workers will die. On top of this, plumbers, electricians and other maintenance workers and others could be unwittingly working with or around asbestos every day. This OH&S website provides many resources:
http://www.ohsrep.org.au/hazards/asbestos/asbestos-in-the-workplace/index.cfm
This Australian website is dedicated to heightening awareness, providing practical information about asbestos, the safe handling of asbestos, and also provides a 24 hour hotline for information in emergencies:
http://www.asbestosinfo.com.au
Cancer Council Victoria has published a patient information and support booklet, Mesothelioma: A guide for people with cancer. The content covers diagnosis, treatment options, different support options, living with advanced cancer, as well as practical information such as the financial and legal implications of the disease.
The Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities (HACA) group will improve the management, monitoring and response to asbestos issues in NSW by developing coordinated prevention programs.
International
International sites may contain information not relevant to Australia, and should be treated as such. You should always verify any information locally, before deciding to act on it.
This is an excellent site detailing developments in the international campaign to end the use and export of asbestos, including campaigns and resource material:
http://ibasecretariat.org/
This New Zealand based website is a very personal site started and maintained by Deidre vanGerven whose husband died of Pleural Mesothelioma on the 1st of June in 1997. It contains a large amount of pertinent information relevant to people affected by an Asbestos Related Disease. It is a living, breathing site where people from all walks of life tell about their journey:
http://fibreaware.org.nz
This website originating out of the UK is set up and run by Debbie Brewer, herself a sufferer of mesothelioma. Worth going to for information and to blog with other sufferers and those whose lives have been affected by mesothelioma. Debbie is a great source of strength to all she comes in contact with:
http://www.mesothelioma-and-me.com
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD. Over 12 million people have been diagnosed with COPD--and about 12 million more don't know they have it. This lung disease, which makes breathing difficult. For further information on COPD:
http://www.healthline.com/health/copd