PEERS® Social Skills Group Program

Start Date: First week of May 2025 (Thursday, 1st May)

Location: 12 The Avenue, Hurstville

Time:

• Young Adult Sessions: Thursdays, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (90 minutes)
• Social Coaching Sessions: Fridays, 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm (75 minutes), starting 2nd May

Duration: 16 weeks

Group size: 6 to 12 participants

Session Costs & Payment Terms

• Cost: $350 per week (includes 90 minutes for the young adult + 75 minutes for their social coach).
• Deposit required: For Medicare-rebated, private, and NDIS self-managed participants, a $700 deposit (equivalent to two weeks’ payment) is required to secure enrolment.
• Plan-managed NDIS payments: Full payment required upon registration.

For Medicare rebates, clients must pay the session fee upfront and submit a claim to Medicare. Providers may assist with processing claims.

Payment Options

1. Medicare Rebate – Participants may be eligible for a $49.05 rebate per session for up to 10 group sessions per year under Medicare. A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from a GP or psychiatrist is required.

• The gap-payment for Medicare group sessions contributes to the Medicare Safety Net, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs.

2. NDIS – The PEERS program can generally be claimed for self-managed or plan-managed participants. It is typically funded under the Capacity Building category, specifically:

• Increased Social and Community Participation – Innovative Community Participation (09_008_0116_6_3)
• Increased Social and Community Participation – Community Participation Activities (09_011_0125_6_3)
• Improved Relationships – Individual Social Skills Development (11_024_0117_7_3)
• Improved Daily Living – Community Engagement Assistance (15_045_0128_1_3)
• > Important: Participants should confirm eligibility with their NDIS plan manager or support coordinator. Only self-managed and plan-managed NDIS funds can be used.

3. Private Health Insurance – Clients should check with their provider to confirm eligibility and rebate amounts.

4. Private Payment – Participants can also pay directly for the program.

Why Join Our PEERS® Group?

✔️ Facilitated by experienced Clinical Psychologists

✔️ Small group setting for individualised attention

✔️ Practical, real-world skill-building

✔️ “Social coach” involvement to reinforce learning at home

Fun Facts & Evidence-Base:

> Originally developed at UCLA, the world-renowned PEERS® program has been translated into over a dozen languages and is used in more than 150 countries worldwide.

> PEERS® teaches ecologically valid social skills—the same strategies naturally used by socially successful individuals.

> The program equips participants with practical, real-world strategies to navigate social interactions confidently in school, the workplace, and community settings.

> PEERS® is grounded in research and has been proven effective in helping participants improve their social skills and form meaningful relationships, including:

• Improvement in social assertiveness, cooperativeness, and self-control.
• Significant improvements in social responsiveness, due to the programs attention to receptive and expressive social communication skills.
• Improved empathy and perspective-taking. This may be due to an increase in mentalising ability, leading to an increased understanding of other’s mental and emotional states.
• Reduced self-reported loneliness due to greater participation in social activities and hobbies, as well as the development of meaningful friendships.
• Increased frequency of social invitations extended to the participant.
• Reduction in social anxiety, and increasing overall social functioning.