PeerCo was launched in 2019 but COVID-19 brought many hurdles to pursuing their vision, said secretary and peer support worker Bridget Dougherty.

A small grant of $8,400 has been awarded to the "small grassroots" service by Australia Post, but will make possible their Recovery Art Project to support women who have experienced domestic and/or family violence to connect with others for healing and recovery.

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"When people have gone through trauma it becomes all encompassing, so this is a space where women can get together and be themselves and not have to pretend everything is okay," Ms Dougherty said.

"These groups are just about women being there for each other, women who understand what it's like to be in a dark place and we support each other."

The new project will not be a free art group, said Ms Dougherty, but will use creative activities to help sufferers of trauma "learn how to see the beauty in life".

"Medicine, hospitals, psychologists, all of that are really helpful but meeting people who have been on the journey, I think, can be really life changing for people," she said.

Ms Dougherty became a peer support worker after experiencing multiple traumas since childhood, but it was once particular event which spurred her desire to get PeerCo up and running with nine other people.

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"When I was working in [another support organisation] I was supporting a young girl and she turned up at a hospital one day and was turned away, but then she took her own life," she said.

"I realised we need to step up in terms of how we support people and be there for people who really need it."

Ms Dougherty said the idea of a "peer and consumer-led" service originally came from her grief and wanting to support people in different ways.

She said the ensemble of people behind the service included consumers, people on the NDIS, experienced peer workers and "people who just want to see change in the sector".

The organization is one of 76 community organisations across the country to receive a 2021 Australia Post Community Grant of up to $10,000.

The grants program reinforces Australia Post's commitment to mental health by funding projects that help improve connection and mental wellbeing in local communities.

For anyone interested in joining a PeerCo group, email: PeerCoMentalHealth@gmail.com

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