ABOUT THIS PAGE
Wherever possible, websites with comprehensive information on the services available have been used (for example, all the ACT Scout information is accessible from one website).

Where possible, each site description is followed by a contact phone or address (NB: The area code for Canberra is 02).

This list is not exhaustive, and you should seek out the particular services you need using the services listed on this page as a good start.

Sites that are commercial, not free in nature, are usually followedd with the world 'commercial'.

This list is not exhaustive, and you should seek out the particular services you need using the services listed on this page as a good start.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LINKS LISTED HERE?
Most major illnesses, including Schizophrenia, can disrupt all facets of a persons life. Where Schizophrenia (& other Mental Illnesses) differ from many other major illnesses, is in rehabilitation of the person after the acute stage has ended. While ill, people with Schizophrenia can loose contact with many of the services society offers, because the illness may cause the person to withdraw from help. As well, after a psychotic episode, people with Schizophrenia may suffer from the negative symptoms of the disease, including depression. Schizophrenia often occours in the young, thus interupting the development of social skills.

As such, whereas people who suffer other major illnesses may find it possible to return to a normal active life after rehabilitation, for Schizophrenia, socialising and learning social skills, is critical in the process of rehabilitation. People need to develop support networks, find employment and education, sometimes find accommodation, become physically and mentally active again, and to do all these things in their own time.

In order to socialise, people need to know the basic where, when and how to do it. This page has been designed to improve the knowledge people with Schizophrenia have of the services and opportunities available in and around Canberra so that they can make decisions for themselves about what services they need to access.

HOW TO USE THIS PAGE
There are so many organisations here that the task of finding what is applicable to you can be a bit daunting. To help you search through this page for the services that you need, try the following exercise.

Spend a minute or two considering, and writing down, your answers to the following two questions:-
1. What things interest me?
2. What things are important to me?

You may find that your interests are quite many, but that the things that are important to you are few, and you are more certain about them. As well, were you surprised by what you come up with when you thought about what was important to you? They may often be things that you had not given much thought to before. For instance, you may not have written down your friends as things that interest you, but good friendships are bound to be part of everyones list of things that are important to them. You might also ask yourself what sorts of things are not important to you, as this can further consolidate your understanding of your own personal values.

By finding out what is important to you, you can get a better understanding of which services on this page are applicable to you. Here are some examples: Are following sport and holidays away from Canberra important to you? If so, the Raiders Fan Clubs might interest you because they organise travel to games in Sydney. Are animal welfare and the natural environment things that you value? You might be interested in the Wildcare group which looks after injured native animals. Are you a senior citizen who values learning about computers? Then maybe the Senior Net Group would interest you.

Basically, if you take some time to stop and consider the things your values by finding out what is important to you, you can build up an idea of the sorts of activities that will be useful to you.

Keep in mind that many of the organisations listed here exist to serve YOU, and as such, you should not be afraid of actively using them. On the other hand, keep in mind that ALL of these organisations operate only because hard working people like YOU work in them. Sometimes these people are overworked and underpaid - most NOT PAID at all, except by receiving your gratitude.

If you really want them to work for YOU, YOU should consider what you can do for THEM... This is how we build a community afterall.